India. A land of diversity, and different cultures, and unique lifestyles. A place where everyone is different, and knows the world differently.
And yet, we are not divided.
Diverse, but unified. Contrasting cultures, in harmony. Unique, but toget...
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“Without translation, I would be limited to the borders of my own country. The translator is my most important ally. He introduces me to the world.” – Italo Calvino
Translation and translators are often considered unimportant, but the deep knowledge of the various languages they possess is irreplaceable. Every year on September 30, the world celebrates International Translation Day to honor the spirit and dedication of language lovers. The day raises awareness about how languages play a crucial role in the development of a society. Celebrating International Translation Day was an initiative of the general assembly of the UN. In the year 1991, the International Federation of Translators( IFT) decided to pay tribute to the spirits of the translators all over the world. IFT’s main motto behind celebrating the day, besides honoring the translators’ morale, was to promote translation worldwide as a profession that has become increasingly essential in the era of globalization. According to the UN, “International Translation Day plays an important role in ushering nations together, bestowing to the development, and strengthening world peace and security.”
Now, you must be wondering why only September 30, and not any other date? The reason to particularly choose September 30 is because it is St. Jerome’s feast day, the patron saint of translation. St. Jerome was a student of the Latin language, and based on his knowledge, he translated The Bible from Hebrew into Latin. Initially, his work was not approved by Martin Luther. However, later his translation became famous, and he was much celebrated.
Every year, a unifying theme for International Translation Day is selected. The theme for 2021 International Translation Day is “United in Translation.” Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, the world economy has taken a pause, with everyone maintaining distance from each other. Fortunately, now, the situation is under control in many places. Through translation, this year, the motto is to celebrate unity.
Cultural nuances play an essential role, and they contain a lot of inside humor and jokes. This humor can be so local and not at all comprehensive for everyone- this is why we need translators so that we do not miss the cultural nuances. As rightly said by George Steiner, without translation, we would be living in provinces bordering on silence. Translators are at the junction point in this fast-paced world. Translators have a significant role in strengthening the diplomatic engagements that prevent border disputes and encourage peace while lending a helping hand in the growth of the economy through globalization.
As per a report published by UNESCO, about 40% of the 6700 languages spoken in the world are in danger of disappearing. The reason why these languages are disappearing is because of a lack of speakers and understanding. Even if a person speaks an endangered language, but as people fail to understand the said language, the person stops speaking that language. Even if English is a Global Language, it is not the only language. With the advancement of technology, small and almost every country is beginning to take their stand within the global economy. This is why the world needs translation so that every language is alive and accommodated well into the global economy.
As our world is multicultural and multilingual, and with translation, we can connect with more and more people with the power of translation. Every year, the UN sponsors a St. Jerome Translation Contest By inviting students from the partner Universities, permanent mission staff accredited within the UN. The languages in which the translation is conducted for now are German, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Chinese, and English. Even if the translation day is celebrated globally by the UN, on a personal level, you can observe the International Translation Day by translating your favorite English book into your native language, or vice versa.
Facts regarding translation:
The world’s first translation is The Epic Of Gilgamesh.
Charles Wilkins is regarded as the first translator of Bhagwad Gita, translated to Russian, in the year 1784.
Attipate Krishnaswami Ramanujan is regarded as the father of translation in India.
The Bible is the most translated document, which is translated into 2932 languages.
The mistranslation of the word ‘Mokusatsu” led to the Atomic Bombing in Japan.
Google Translate can translate more than 100 global languages.
Happy International Translation Day to all the languagelovers and professionals worldwide!
