International Translation Day 30th September
It’s a special day in the annual translator calendar truly worth celebrating. Every year on the 30th of September, we celebrate International Translation Day; an opportunity to display pride in a profession that is becoming increasingly essential in the era of progressing globalisation. First established by the International Federation of Translators, the day dates back to 1953.
The day gives KP International Translators a chance to celebrate the achievements of our team and highlight the importance of translators’ work around the world.
Why September 30th?
September 30th is the feast day of St. Jerome, the patron saint of translation. Translators may not get the accolades they deserve, but it’s a powerful tribute knowing sainthood is always an option. St Jerome, a translator himself; had a flair for languages, studied the Hebrew Bible, and translated it into Latin.
Quick history lesson…
Jerome is the second most voluminous writer in ancient Latin Christianity. In the Catholic Church, he’s known as the patron saint of translators, librarians, and encyclopedists. Religious historians will confirm, without Jerome’s commitment and strong work ethic, the bible would never have been translated as accurately as it was, and in turn, English bibles may have read completely different.
The world celebrates with a different theme every year, and 2019’s focus is “indigenous languages and their translation.” Last month, we published a blog highlighting the importance of keeping all indigenous languages alive. With this in mind, KP International Translators believes the theme of this year’s celebration couldn’t be more fitting. There are currently more than 370 million indigenous people in the world, living across more than 90 different countries and speaking an overwhelming majority of the world’s estimated 7,000 languages. Sadly, languages around the globe continue to disappear due to a variety of factors, and a considerable percentage of those are indigenous languages. Languages and different dialects are some of the most powerful representations of family and history, which are passed on to the next generation.
The need for translation services is vital and keeping language alive is imperative. Cultural identity enables people to feel proud of themselves and their culture and maintaining one’s language raises self-esteem. Here are just a few areas of translation many people may need in their professional or personal lives;
Academic documents – University reports & results, essays & assignments, previous university records, past courses, transcripts, guidelines and certificates.
Promotional materials – Information leaflets, brochures, posters and web pages.
Legal documents – Marriage & birth certificates, driver’s license, divorce papers, change of name certificates, and death certificates.
Medical records – Training materials for medical care, medical devices or pharmaceutical fields, marketing or clinical, regulatory, and technical documentation.
Interpreters and translators have a unique role in society. They’re responsible for bringing people together and sharing new information that was previously only accessible to members of a specific culture. Their work can impact relationships between specific nations and even change the course of history.
Interpreters and translators do incredible work, and they deserve to be recognized for it. International Translation Day allows the world to thank those who have helped us so much.
Happy International Translator Day!
Felix Dia Internacional do Tradutor!
Bonne journee internationale
des traducteurs!
More to come next month.