The United Nations Has Approved a Draft Resolution that Honors Translation and Translators!
On May 24th, the UN Department for General Assembly and Conference Management officially declared September 30th as International Translation Day during its 71st session. The Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Dmitry Mironchik had initiated the draft resolution which was supported by several countries. The draft resolution regarding the recognition of International Translation Day was officially adopted by a majority vote, including Turkey, during a session held on May 24th. From now on, September 30th will officially be celebrated as International Translation Day all throughout the globe!
International Translation Day!
Language is an essential tool for human communication. Humans cannot exist without communication. We are able to pass down ideas, cultures, and emotions from generation to generation thanks to language. There are hundreds of different languages in the world. Each nation was able to form its own language, relied on it for communication, and continue to do so.. Communication does not only occur among people from the same country who speak the same language. Communication also has an international and universal aspect. It is thanks to translators that international communication is made possible. If it weren’t for translators, hundreds of nations would not have been able to come together and communicate as if they all spoke the same language. This profession, which aims to bring the world together and convey knowledge, ideas, emotions, and ideologies from one nation to another for generations to come, has become increasingly more important over the years and is now a highly esteemed profession. It is because of this that September 30th has been declared International Translation Day. Ever since 1953, International Translation/Translators’ Day, which is recognized by hundreds of people, has been celebrated each year through a variety of festive activities. Translators who have devoted their lives to the profession and people interested in translation and communication have come together each year with the common purpose of raising the prestige and awareness of the profession, and from now on International Translation Day will officially be celebrated on September 30th.
Why September 30th?
In the Christian world, September 30th is commemorated as the day on which the Bible was first translated from Hebrew to Latin by Saint Jerome. Thanks to him, the Bible was able to reach a far wider audience, thus allowing the spread of Christianity. In today’s world, Saint Jerome’s translation is still considered as the official translation. September 30th, which commemorates the patron Saint of translators Saint Jerome and honors professional translators worldwide, was declared International Translation day by the International Federation of Translators (FIT).
How is September 30th Celebrated?
International Translation/Translators’ Day has been celebrated each year since 1991. The International Federation of Translators (FIT) decides on a theme for each year, and based on this theme many linguists, translators and academics come together to exchange ideas regarding the quality of the profession and how to improve it. Because the importance of language and awareness of the profession continues to increase by the day, more and more people have begun to attend the events, which have become even more globalized and significant, each year. Moreover, according to an announcement by the International Federation of Translators, the 2017 theme for International Translation Day is “Translation and Diversity.”
International Translation Day in Turkey
Just like in many countries, September 30th has gained greater importance among various organizations and translation communities in Turkey as well and has become more widely recognized in the sector. International Translation Day was first officially celebrated in Turkey when UNESCO laid a wreath in Taksim. Various organizations and translation communities in the sector hold several conferences and present honorary and commemoration awards to renowned translators in Turkey that have made an impact. What’s more, several festivities, receptions and events are organized all throughout the country for all age groups interested in the profession.