International Translation Day is celebrated on 30 September. This date was established by the International Federation of Translators (FIT) for over 35 years, and adopted by the United Nations in 2017.
It is an important moment to highlight the relevance of language to communication, but also identity, social integration, education, politics, and development.
As language is a strategic tool for people and the international community's decisions, worshiping the role of translators and language professionals in connecting nations is the icing on the cake of this date.
Why 30 September?
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The date choice has a religious (catholic) background. On 30 September 420, the Bible translator, St Jerome, died near the historic city of Bethlehem. St Jerome is honored by translating the sacred book into Latin in the Vulgate (the most disseminated version of the Bible).
He is considered the “patron saint of translators”, so 30 September is also St Jerome feast day in Catholic traditions.
The Role of Translators and Language Professionals
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Religion origins aside, Translation Day is a mark we should highlight here because of the importance of language professionals nowadays and so on.
Multilingualism is a core value not only of the United Nations but other international organizations, that understand the complex implications of language in our world.
Could you imagine how chaotic the climate and productiveness in international dialogue would be without language professionals? They facilitate understanding and cooperation and play a significant role in our world peace and security.
Often working behind the scenes, language professionals are multiple: community interpreters, translators of literature, translators who make technical manuals accessible in dozens of languages, translators specialized in science, interpreters of debates and political meetings, and translation agencies, among many other roles.
It is a profession that comes with high ethical responsibilities, such as accuracy, confidentiality, and impartiality. They also hold significant responsibility for preserving and revitalizing endangered languages.
International Translation Day is an opportunity to pay tribute to these workers, who have been challenged to adapt to technological development, always trying to keep the best communication results on the focus.
Machine Translation transforming the field
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Artificial intelligence has rearranged many industries, but with language, it has brought a more pronounced impact.
Technology has expressively transformed the modus operandi of language services. The professionals are required to develop new skills, and at the same time, it raises new opportunities in areas like MT post-editing, MT engine training, and linguistic data analysis.
Machine learning comes in this scenario bringing unbreakable changes, such as:
- Rapid Turnaround: Process large volumes of text quickly, significantly improving speed and efficiency.
- Automation of Repetitive Tasks: By handling repetitive and straightforward translations, MT allows human translators to focus on nuanced tasks.
- Accessibility for all Markets: Small and medium-sized enterprises have more chances to afford translation services, enabling them to reach global markets.
- Translation Memory and Terminology Databases: MT tools integrate with translation memory and terminology databases, aiding translators in maintaining consistency and efficiency.
- Post-Editing: MT often requires human post-editing to ensure accuracy, fluency, and cultural relevance. Human touch is still in charge of idiomatic expressions, and context-specific language.
How to celebrate International Translation Day?
The mission of building bridges through language will never be fully done without human touch. We invite the community to celebrate this day by getting involved with events and activities, such as seminars, and workshops.
Listening and sharing experiences are also good ways to celebrate, and on this matter, our tip is the podcast and videocast Merging Minds, with the latest trends in AI, the translation industry, and Localization.
According to The Chartered Institute of Linguists website, the International Federation of Translators' theme for International Translation Day 2024 is “Translation, an art worth protecting”.
The institute brought important thoughts about the future of translation with AI integration.
Some highlights are that the profession has to deal with the deep questions of machine training, such as copyright, but while low-risk translation can be done by automatism, the translator and interpreters will be the choice in situations when confidence, precision, and high-risk communication are required.
Congratulations to all the translators, agencies, and language professionals on this date! The art of translation is alive and this is truly a reason to celebrate.
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References:
RODRIGUEZ, Alison. International Translation Day 2024 – Translation, an art worth protecting. Chartered Institute of Linguists. Available at:< https://www.ciol.org.uk/International-Translation-Day-2024>.
United Nations. Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 24 May 2017. Available at: <https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/n17/149/29/pdf/n1714929.pdf?token=gtT09Ovk261pBbb5lA&fe=true >.
United Nations. The role of language professionals. Available at: <https://www.un.org/en/observances/international-translation-day>.
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