What remains of the Magna Carta?

The Magna Carta is a landmark in British history and human rights law. June 2015 marked the 800th anniversary. The British Library ran an exhibition from 13th March until 1st September to celebrate the occasion. The exhibition was entitled:

Magna Carta: Law, Liberty, Legacy.

This medieval document has been cited in legal arguments both in Britain and abroad throughout the centuries. According to Lord Denning, it came to be seen as a guarantee of

"the freedom of the individual against

the arbitrary authority of the despot." 

The word "freedom" does not even appear in the text. Lord Bingham stated that

"the significance of the Magna Carta lay not only in what it actually said,

but in what later generations claimed and believed it had said."

I visited the busy exhibition on two occasions. On the first visit, I watched the videos and studied the various exhibits in the cases. On my second visit, I took more time and followed the detailed audio guide.

Medieval documents preserved under glass and in dark

Just three of the Magna Carta's original clauses survive in the law of England and Wales today. The best-known section was prominently displayed at the exhibition's entrance.

"No free man shall be seized or imprisoned, 
or stripped of his rights or possessions, 
or outlawed or exiled, or deprived of his standing in any way, 
nor will we proceed with force against him, or send others to do so, 
except by the lawful judgment of his equals or by the law of the land."

The above seem basic human rights to us today. And yet, there are still countries in the world where these human rights are abused 800 years later. I can't help wondering about the application of the last part even in Britain today:

"To no one will we sell, to no one deny or delay right or justice."

The following issues come to mind: court and tribunal delays (particularly for the disabled), access to interpreters, legal aid reductions for the poor while the wealthy can pay clever lawyers to stay out of court and keep their names out of the Media, money-making and arbitrary parking fines where no offence has been committed, etc.

No one above the law

Significantly, the Magna Carta placed the king under some legal restraint. King John was a notorious tyrant. The Magna Carta established that no one is above the law. Today that means that the monarch, the Royal Family, the Prime Minister, MPs, hereditary or life peers, security services, local government officials, the wealthy, celebrities, judges, barristers or lawyers are not above the law. Attempts are currently being made to correct past injustices, particularly those relating to child abuse. Sometimes the innocent have been caught up in the new wave of transparency.

Remaining clauses
The 2015 issue of the Magna Carta contained 63 clauses. The 1297 version under Edward 1 had just 37 clauses. I particularly liked the visual way the exhibition showed the deletions over time. Clause 1 still remains today. It relates to the liberties of the English Church. Clause 9 confirms the liberties and customs of the city of London, and other towns and cities.

Visual explaining deletions in the document clauses

Technology

The exhibition drew out well what the Magna Carta signified in following centuries. The charters appeared at the very end. One copy had been badly damaged by a fire. Advances in technology now mean that we can see the text more clearly again. Maybe this is also symbolic of how intrusive as well as beneficial technology can be in our lives? More can be seen of our lives than ever before. Does that restrict our freedom? Or enhance it?

Cornelia Parker's Magna Carta Embroidery

Wikipedia Embroidery

The British Library also commissioned an embroidery to commemorate the Magna Carta anniversary. It echoes the Bayeux Tapestry with embroidered contributions from over 200 people. In a contemporary twist by Cornelia Parker, the artwork captures the Magna Carta's Wikipedia article as it appeared online one year earlier.

An opportunity for the general public to interact at the end would have been great. Posting human rights suggestions could have brought the exhibition right up-to-date.

Although little remains of the Magna Carta's text in law today, it provided the foundation for many other such documents. Its influence and spirit endures.


For further information about Anglicity's translation and copywriting services, please email karen@anglicity.com

Translating in 3D

A recent Anglicity blog dealt with perspective and thinking in 3D. Translators have to think in three dimensions. Their deliberations go far beyond the flat text. They also need cultural sensitivity. These abilities set the best translators apart from machines.

Social media translations

Today, automated translation is often used to translate social media. It is great for gist translations in situations that do not require 100% accuracy. The end result can sometimes be flat and one-dimensional. There is a heavy reliance on existing translations. There is no "extra value". The approach may be fit for purpose, but not always...

History in a tweet

The tweet below is loaded with historical and cultural significance. History is repeating itself. In reverse.

Added value of human translation

If you were not alive in 1956 or are unaware of Hungarian history, you need an informed translator to help you understand the full meaning. You need a translator to provide the missing dimensions for you - to put the subject into 2D, and then into 3D.

2D = history - You need your translator to advise you on the history - i.e. to take your perspective back in time. Such information may influence your decisions on what action to take. There may be potential in-country reactions to consider. This informed perspective will influence the tone of your communications.

3D = contemporary background - You need your translator to advise you on the current situation in the country and sentiment towards your country - i.e. to project your thinking forward. You need to fully understand the tweet and its sensitivity before taking action. Again, you need to establish the correct tone for your communications.

 

Added value of context 

The translated tweet is flat without its historical and cultural context. If you use an automated translation without a translator's advice, you could get an explosive reaction and damage your brand. Timing is important. You may need to avoid sensitive or simply busy periods. One region may be more sensitive to your message than another.

Automated translation is preferred when time is of the essence. Going too fast to assess cultural and historical significance can sometimes backfire. A measured human approach can win the race without regrets.

Refugee crisis call to humans

There is a refugee crisis in Hungary. Cries have gone out for help. Not to machines. No. Urgent help has been asked of human translators and interpreters. It seems that human is best in a crisis after all.

For information about Anglicity's services, email karen@anglicity.com.

Rugby World Cup 2015

Just days to go until the start of the Rugby World Cup 2015. The excitement is brewing.

British Prime Minister David Cameron diplomatically wished all the home nations good luck in Parliament last week. The opening match is England v Fiji at Twickenham on Friday 18th September. England's Pool A also includes Wales, Australia and Uruguay.

Les Bleus are in Pool D. The French team's opening match will also be at Twickenham on Saturday 19th September against the Italians. They will be playing at a number of different venues - Romania at the Olympic Park, Ireland at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and even in Milton Keynes against Canada in between.

The French team was welcomed to England by Sylvie Bermann, the French Ambassador to the UK. Here is the Twitter post of their meeting:

I know that many of my French Twitter followers are interested in rugby, so I wish les Bleus good luck... until they reach the semi-finals and the possibility of playing England of course. 

Current favourites are reigning World Champions New Zealand. Some suggest that both finalists could come from the Southern Hemisphere - with the All Blacks facing Australia. Expectation will be high for England too as the home nation.

A lot can happen in a tournament spread over 6 weeks. Let's hope that it will be an inspirational World Cup for the game of rugby, whoever wins in the final on 31 October (Hallow'een).


For information about Anglicity's French to English translation and writing services email karen@anglicity.com

COP21: World's Last Chance

"We are counting on you!" so said the children in a video clip shown at the Élysée Palace. France staged its COP21 launch in Paris today. The 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference will take place in Paris from 30 November to 11 December. The COP21 conference is the world's last chance to save the planet.

There was no mincing of words in Paris this morning. No more disputing whether climate change is happening. No more quibbling over how many degrees are necessary to stabilise the planet.

The world must act.

180 nations must commit and act cooperatively together. No more "we'll start next year". "Later" will be too late. Failure cannot be on the COP21 agenda.

COP21 is not about saving pretty little butterflies. It is not about saving cute animals. It is about saving mankind.

Our children will hate us for failure. Our descendants would hate us for all eternity... except if COP21 fails they won't be around to hate us.

The key to success at COP21 is telling the truth about climate change. The refugee crisis has given us a mere taster of the human agony of mass migration.

Climate change will hit the weakest nations the hardest... those with the weakest voice at the negotiating table. It calls on the more powerful nations to be magnanimous. The key word of COP21 must be "solidarity".

Short-term, blinkered, self-interested deals will ultimately rebound. They will condemn us all to share the same dire fate.

All eyes will be on Paris for two weeks in this massive conference at Le Bourget. The French are keen to set the world an example. The conference itself is to be a massive exercise in sustainability. All participants will be invited to use public transport to keep the conference's carbon footprint as low as possible. French gastronomy will be on offer with a keen eye on reducing food waste.

Anne Hidalgo, the Mayor of Paris, will host 1,000 world mayors. They will seek not only to share local ideas but ways to act together. Their plans and actions should help us to understand what this global conference will mean for us on a more local level.

The most striking comment quoted at the launch came from a Moroccan woman: 

"You are going to decide who will live or die..."

 

If world leaders take short-cuts for short-term popularity at COP21, the consequences will be enormous. They should bear in mind that they will effectively be signing a greater number of death warrants. Every now and again, they should check their consciences by looking at the young conference helpers around them.

There are tough choices ahead - choices many ordinary citizens couldn't bear to contemplate. We have to place our trust in our leaders to become the statesmen demanded by our planet's crisis.

We'll be watching and counting on them.

On Thinking in 3D

In a momentous and heart-wrenching European news week, it was back to the usual school routine in our household. As explained in an earlier blog, school has never been my younger son's favourite place. I was delighted to see his smiley, confident return on Friday afternoon. What a difference a change in perspective can make.


James returned from school with a small drawing. A familiar scene in many homes no doubt. He showed me the drawing with pride. After explaining, he pinned it with a magnet to our fridge as so many times before in his primary school days.

The new Physics teacher had asked the class to draw a picture of a house. Then he awarded points for different characteristics in the drawings. James got high marks. Why? Because he drew a house in 3D, while many classmates drew conventional, 2-dimensional houses.

He regretted missing out on a few marks, because he didn't put the door off-centre. Good point. Doors, opportunities and solutions in life aren't generally to be found dead in the centre. Project plan and project experience often run slightly off course.

The house drawing also boasts lots of windows to look out of or to let in lots of light, depending on your perspective.

There is even a skylight to look up at the sky and stars.

Smokes rises from the chimney. This is a warm house with a fireside to huddle around in the cold depths of winter.

There is a large garden with a low fence. (Well, honestly, what would you expect from the son of a keen gardener?) The grass is depicted with meticulous strokes of green. Details matter.

That little drawing can stay on our fridge all year. I am very proud of my son. I am grateful to the inspirational Physics teacher who asked for something a little different. He showed James that his different perspective has value.

Our little family tale seems particularly relevant this week. We have seen ordinary people show warm, out-of-the box thinking towards refugees, in contrast to rigid, flat 2-dimensional thinking from wealthy, highly educated politicians.

People aren't numbers or quotas. Every individual has value.