Emigrant Or Ex-Pats?

[barry1010]

What's the difference? 

[Peter Pedant]

equals?

You are referring to linguistic shift - and I dont think if affects this pair

( You know, gay 1939 does not mean gay now)

[davebro3]

if you google "emigrant v expat" ?

[barry1010]

I wanted personal views of the terms, not dictionary definitions, dave.

 

 

[Peter Pedant]

Oh, personally - immigrant - you just have to remember the direction ( with reference to the place)

If a Brit goes to Canada- he is an emigrant here and an immigrant there

Both parents were migrants ( within our glorious empire with freedom of travel) and two siblings and two nephews - no four...many cousins

Remeber whilst we are at it, the cost to the Treasury to rehoming 'White Settlers' from the  then Rhodesia was ( and still is) ...... nil.

[Peter Pedant]

they were always rehomed by other resident members of the family.

some unlucky choosers ( wrong choice geddit) accepted free migration to Angola to farm - - - the farms were nationalised two years later. So THEY had to start over twice, and "work until they drop"

The Poles next door have gone back to Poland ( what????) and said - well once you pull up stumps and move..... you can easily do it a second time - yeah but no but you are moving TO a war zone....

[davebro3]

well you'll get more sense than what PP is spouting🙄

[Cloverjo]

Ex-pats when it's Brits moving abroad. Migrants when poorer people come here. 
 

I think that's what you're getting at with your question. 

[barry1010]

Clover, I am not referring to people coming into to the UK.

I was wondering why we called British people who moved abroad ex-pats and not emigrants.

I have no wish to discuss here people who move in to the UK.

[davebro3]

I think expats want to keep a foot in the "old" country - just in case.

Emigrants cut themselves off completely (except maybe for some emotional attachment - cf Irish Americans) and wouldn't return under any circumstance.

[barry1010]

You could be right, dave.  I've known a few folk who call themseleves ex-pats but flew back to the UK every 3 months for their NHS prescriptions, eye tests and dentistry.  I have thought that that might have helped the NHS to decide to limit repeat prescriptions to monthly in many instances.

[Old_Geezer]

I think you're right dave. Expats is a more more inclusive term. Can include those temporarily working abroad as well as those who have actually emigrated.

[wolf63]

And ... have you ever noticed that Scots, and those of Scottish decent,  seem to be more Scottish than those born in Scotland?

😁

[douglas9401]

Can't hold a candle to the Oirish though, Wolf.

[gulliver1]

Emigrants,.,, No such thing as expats.

[youngmafbog]

Ex pats often encompasses those working and living abroad on a temporary basis.

Someone who emigrates packs up and goes for good.

[Countrylover]

Trouble is some decide they are going for good and often come back.  My friends who went for good now are desperate to come back now they are older.  I think this happens to many.

[Hopkirk]

I worked abroad for four years. I didn't emigrate.

[gulliver1]

Or even Brits abroad.

[newmodarmy]

Brits abroad is, erm, a broad definition- too broad, as it can include those abroad on holiday  

[Peter Pedant]

Trouble is some decide they are going for good and often come back. 

about 50% of those going to Canada last one winter. Having done a bit of Nfld. I dont blame them

one of my father's colleagues ( " famously unhappy" ) - went to Oz ( 2y) came back, went to Oz ( 10y) and came back here again ( for care I bet)