International Translation Day 2022
International Translation Day is celebrated on September 30th of every year. During this day, we celebrate the importance of translation and cross-cultural communication. Some countries have designated this day as National Translation Day, while in others it is simply a celebration for all translators.
History of the translation day
The idea of International Translation Day arose from the need to promote translation activities. The first initiative of translating on a larger scale was taken by the European Commission, which launched 2001 “Europeans Translators’ Day”.
In 2009, UNICTRAL and UNESCO decided that an annual day is needed to honor and promote translation activities worldwide. Since then, every year on January 23rd, individuals, organizations, and institutions take action to promote translation and its role in peacebuilding.
The translation is a key tool for building intercultural understanding and promoting peace and development. It helps in improving access to information and fostering mutual understanding between people belonging to different cultures. It is, therefore, expected that through training courses and translating activities the quality of translations will improve and standards will be raised.
The scope of the day
The scope of activities on International Translation Day may vary from year to year but it has to be undertaken in the spirit of promoting a better understanding, inter-cultural dialogue, and respect for diversity.
The theme for 2013 was “Translation for All” which aimed to promote translation as a key tool for social inclusion. It encouraged people worldwide to think about how translation can help improve information access and benefit people from diverse communities.
The event also sought to highlight the importance of accurate translation by raising awareness about human rights abuses frequently committed through mistranslation or misinterpretation.
On International Translation Day, every year around 100 countries celebrate by holding translation events with their foreign counterparts or hosting international partners to share ideas and teach literacy skills to local school children. The day’s main focus is to teach translators how they can contribute to their community’s culture by helping translate documents like slogans or posters into different languages.
It is also important to emphasize that “translation is not only a service, but it is also a cultural exchange and an opportunity to learn about the different cultures”. To celebrate this day, international organizations provide resources such as free kits containing books and writing tools.
Timeline for the day
1948
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The U.N. adopts a universal declaration of human rights, encouraging respect for human rights regardless of race, sex, language, or religion.
2017
International Translation Day
The U.N. announces September 30 as International Translation Day to honor language professionals all around the world.
The best ways to observe International Translation
- Discover a new language.
To learn a new language, you don’t require an expensive mentor or a sophisticated coursebook. Use the numerous free resources that are offered online on September 30 to get started on your journey toward being a polyglot.
- encouraging multiculturalism
Diversity is beautiful, and our differences offer us opportunities. The day of September 30 is ideal for highlighting ethnic diversity through attire, cuisine, and customs.
- contact a former friend.
Resolve your personal troubles with an estranged person by drawing motivation from translators who bridge the gap in communication between two diverse cultures.
THE PURPOSE OF INTERNATIONAL TRANSLATION DAY
- Global respect for all cultures is due.
Having your language and culture represented on a worldwide scale is an honor. Translators use their intelligence and multilingual wisdom to honor native tongues rather than pressuring world leaders to give up their native languages.
- Never end the conversation
Our capacity to set aside our differences and work together for a common goal is essential for maintaining world peace. Those who translate fill the gap between various entities. Language is an obstacle on the international stage. We can get beyond that because of our tireless and underpaid translators.
- It’s a fantastic professional move.
There are several career chances for translators in a world that are becoming more and more international. The translation industry requires people who can speak more than one language and are looking to change careers.
