For most of the world, January 1st 2021 was the start of a new year during a global pandemic. However, in Europe, this day marked the beginning of a new existence for the UK and the EU. Brexit has impacted all aspects of society, including the role and importance of translators.
Just six years ago, the thought of a nation leaving the EU was unbelievable, yet here we stand today with Brexit done, though not quite dusted. The so-called ‘Withdrawal Agreement’, penned and agreed to on the last days of December, has only started to be implemented. Uncertainty on the terms of the future relationship between the two economies is still strong, affecting businesses, citizens, and yes, even translators.
EU member states bring a total of 24 official and working languages together and it is up to skilled translators to ensure that communication between nations does not fail due to misunderstandings. These professionals are entrusted to spread the message of the EU so that it can be understood by different nations, with different cultures, and with different levels of language comprehension.
Moving On Post Brexit
With the UK leaving the EU, the English language remains the official language of Malta and Ireland. Nevertheless, with Brexit, the number of EU citizens with English as a secondary language outnumber those with it as a native language 2:1. This inevitably leads to the need for a greater focus and consideration by businesses and other entities on non-English speakers.
How Can Translators Help Business Post Brexit?
Even following Brexit, the UK and EU are certain to continue to be economic collaborators. However, the split has led to further bureaucracy and costs for trade. These costs are inevitably borne by consumers, who might be tempted to look for cheaper alternatives within their borders.
This provides business in Malta, especially those directly affected by Brexit, with an opportunity to expand into new European markets. It is estimated that over 55% of EU consumers search for products and services online in their own language. With commerce to the UK facing new challenges, this is a good time to consider the vast German, French, Scandinavian, and Balkan markets, amongst others.
Translators can help businesses to improve their performance with consumers with a different first language than their own. By translating their content to their target markets, businesses can offset some of the hurdles brought about by Brexit and champion important search-ranking terms in less competitive languages.
If you are struggling to reach new markets post-Brexit, we can help. Our team of language experts can do more than just translate text. We communicate with your target audience by addressing them based on their culture, attitudes, and needs. Speak to us today.
