ATIA Translation Day Symposium 2020 Poster

Free Events for Translation Day 2020

Translation Day is celebrated internationally. This year, many of the events to mark the occasion are being held online – including those offered by the ATIA. Below is a week’s worth of free online events for Translation Day 2020, enjoy!


The ATIA’s Translation Day 2020 Symposium

Saturday, October 3rd

 

Go to www.atia.ab.ca/events for more information on each session or to register.


Please note that the below are not endorsed by or in any way affiliated with the ATIA. Please follow the links for more information about each event, including how to register and the time. 


East meets West Learning Club presents Poetry in Translation featuring George Elliott Clarke and Anna Yin

Friday, September 25th

This event features reading and discussions of original poems and translations between poets and translators. The myth of “lost in translation” and the art of re-creation and mutual exchange will be discussed. See here for more information or register here on Zoom  (meeting ID 871 3466 4583). Past sessions can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CN8-qpOlzk4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXu8g7fQWxo. 


Great Weather for Media presents Spoken Word Sundays Series: A Celebration of National Translation Month featuring Kristina Andersson Bicher, Mi Jialu, and Anton Yakovlev

Sunday, September 27th 

This event will stream here on Facebook Live. 


Archipelago Books and Maison Francaise present Machines a écrire: Scolastique Mukasonga in conversation with Laure Adler (in French)

Monday, September 28th

See here for more information.

BP’s Translation Day Conference

Wednesday, September 30th – Thursday, October 1st

This 30-hour continuous conference offers many short talks in a number of languages. See here for more information.


MAPA Translations & Language Solutions’ International Translation Day

Wednesday, September 30th 

Four sessions include an interpretation panel, a translation panel, a voice-over panel, and a social hour. See here for more information and to register.


 

International Translation Day

The Association of Translators and Interpreters of Alberta is looking forward to recognizing and celebrating the essential role that our members play as professional translators and interpreters in the community on International Translation Day 2020 next month.

In the meantime, have you ever wondered why we celebrate Translation day, where it comes from, or why it’s important to language professionals both locally and around the world? Read on.

In 2017, the International Federation of Translators achieved a historical milestone with the United Nations General Assembly’s declaration of September 30th as International Translation Day, recognizing the central role of language professionals in the international community. The date of September 30th is of historical significance for the language professions because it marks the feast of St. Jerome, a Christian theologian, translator, and saint lauded for his Latin translation of the bible (382-405 CE).

International days are marked by the UN because they present occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. International Translation Day, as described by the UN, is meant as an opportunity to pay tribute to the work of language professionals, which plays an important role in bringing nations together, facilitating dialogue, understanding and cooperation, contributing to development and strengthening world peace and security. Transposition of a literary or scientific work, including technical work, from one language into another language, professional translation, including translation proper, interpretation and terminology, is indispensable to preserving clarity, a positive climate and productiveness in international public discourse and interpersonal communication.

Beyond an opportunity to pay tribute to the work of translators, interpreters, and other language professionals, International Translation Day is an occasion to shed light on globally relevant themes that impact our communities – both locally and internationally. The International Federation of Translators has declared the theme of International Translation Day 2020 to be Finding the Words for a World in Crisis. This timely theme at once unites us with the international community of language professionals tasked with confronting the global health crisis of COVID-19 and the inequalities that have been amplified by it; and sets the stage to address some of the more localized challenges being faced in North America, including in Albertan cities.

The ATIA will be guided by this year’s Translation Day theme as we host a variety of social, professional development, and informative events in recognition and celebration of the professional translators and interpreters that serve Albertans in all different contexts. Stay tuned to the ATIA Facebook, LinkedIn, and Events pages for event announcements as they arise.

Celebrating Translation Day: What Translation Means

Did you know that September 30, 2018 is International Translation Day? Translation Day started in 1953 and was set on the Catholic feast day of St. Jerome – the original biblical translator! In 1991, the day was made officially global by FIT (the International Federation of Translators) and it wasn’t until May 24, 2017 that the United Nations officially passed a resolution recognizing the day as proposed by eleven different member nations: Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Paraguay, Qatar, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Vietnam! A true cause to celebrate for translators all over the globe!

As a member of FIT and a professional organization devoted to certifying translators and interpreters in the province of Alberta, we are spending the day reflecting on the profession and what it means to all of us. Share your thoughts with us too!

Translation connects people. The first thing people think of when it comes to translation is that it connects people who do not read and write in the same language, and it facilitates the sharing of ideas and stories that would otherwise not be shared across the world. Translation gets to the heart of our humanity. As language-immersed beings, we interpret our world through the languages we speak and the words we label things with. Translation gives us some access to those ways of being in the world and gives host to a cache of narratives and histories we otherwise would fail to be enriched by.

Translation thrives on diversity. Similar to the connection piece, translation, by definition, thrives on the unwavering diversity that is humankind. Without this exceptional celebration of difference, translation would be a moot point. When we seek to translate, we accept people and their cultures as they are and we are striving to know more about them on their terms and in their terms – literally!

Translation facilitates justice. There is no justice if the person who requires access to it is inhibited due to language barriers. Translation allows for full access to due process because it allows individuals to tell the stories that have so deeply affected their lives. It allows them to hear and be heard.

Translation builds community. If you can communicate with people, you can join forces with them. Translation allows for the building of community by creating sharing experiences. It is this experiential aspect that brings people together.

Translation sparks innovation. All the way through human history, the translation of texts and information have allowed human beings to combine and innovate to create new knowledge, information and technology. As an example, without translation into Arabic, the great Greek philosophies might be lost to history.

Translation saves lives. Not only does translation give people access to adequate medical care in certain circumstances which can save their life, there are a multitude of other ways that translation can save lives. It could be in the sharing of medical research information about life-saving vaccines or pharmaceuticals; it could be in the sharing of agricultural information that will allow for the better growing of food with which to feed people; it could be the sharing of information related to a particular regional conflict that might have consequences for building peace.

Ultimately, with hundreds of global languages and billions of people, it is inevitable that we will need to communicate and the only way to facilitate this is the hard work of translators like our members every single day. Happy Translation Day everyone!