International Translation Day, celebrated annually on September 30th, honors translators’ role in global understanding. Initiated by FIT in 1991 and recognized by the UN in 2017, it coincides with St. Jerome’s feast day. international translation day activities involve seminars, competitions, and awards. FIT, representing 60,000+ professionals, promotes the profession and translators’ rights.
Celebrations range from gifts to events. Translators can learn languages, watch foreign films, and support translation organizations. The 2022 theme, “A World Without Barriers,” highlights translation’s power to bridge divides.
When is International Translation Day?
The celebration of International translation day is on 30 September of every year. This occasion’s idea belonged to the International Federation of Translators “FIT” which launched this occasion in 1991.
FIT launched this idea to increase awareness of the translators’ role in the world in bringing nations together and highlighting their cooperative work in translation.
So, FIT presented a proposal to the United Nations General Assembly to get formal approval and confession of this occasion. They founded it in 2017, the year of the first celebration of International Translation Day.
The United Nations chose 30 September as the date of this occasion, as long as it’s the same day as the feast of Saint Jerome, who was the translator of the Bible.
On the day of international translation, many seminars and competitions are held to highlight the importance of translation. Also, the top translators for each language get rewards for their extensive efforts and outstanding talents.
Additionally, The United Nations holds a competition in the UN St.Jerome Contrast in several official languages such as English, Arabic, French, Russian and German translation. All the members’ staff of the UN attend this competition.
In 1983, the Arab Organization for Education, Culture, and Science paid attention to increasing awareness of translation’s importance by creating an international plan related to translation. The Conference Ministers of Culture Affairs in the Arab World in Algeria approved this plan.
What are International Federation Translators?
It’s a non-governmental Organization founded in 1953 in Paris, representing over 60,000 translators formally Throughout the world.
This Organization has many branches in over 50 countries. Its fundamental goals are increasing the professionalism of translation, supporting translators’ rights and providing an upgraded environment for all translators to promote their profession.
International Translation Day Celebration
The most important part of International Translation Day is the ways of celebrating, so here are several suggestions for a fabulous and never-to-be-forgotten celebration for translators:
1. Presenting a Gift
The simplest way of celebrating is to give a gift to your friends who work in translation. It’s another way of supporting their work and paying tribute to their efforts and talents.
Many ideas fit the translators and represent their work as Books, Kindle, headsets, a Travel-friendly laptop stand, a coffee maker and an ergonomic chair.
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2. Creating Competitive Games
Competitive Games are one of the best entertaining celebrations. You can gather your friends and make fun games for them, such as competitions for the fastest interpreter who can translate a text or talk at a particular time.
3. Planning a party
At work, you can create a surprise party for the translators with the cooperation of the team members and make it a day to remember for them.
4. Organizing a Group Event
You can make the celebration more fabulous if you invite families and friends of the translators to a group event to celebrate with them. This event can be a movie night or dining out.
5. Creating Gift Packages
You can make the translators cheerful on this day by surprising them with gift packages like a group of colouring books, colourful pens, notebooks, and chocolate bars.
6. Creating a Poster Board
You can celebrate with the translators and appreciate their work by writing honourable messages for them on poster boards, bulletin boards or whiteboards.
Invite all the team to write an appreciation message to them, but ensure that the board is in a place where the translators can notice it.
International Translation Day Activities
Celebrate global language professionals on International Translation Day by engaging in activities like learning a new language or enjoying foreign films. Support the art of cross-cultural communication by exploring translated literature or donating to organizations that promote translation services.
1. Learn a new Language
Translators are passionate about learning languages. So you can choose a language that interests you and start learning it on this day. Therefore, you’ll be able to translate more than language.
Moreover, learning a new language is a vital factor in activating your memory and increasing your concentration. Also, this way will enhance your communication and engagement with people from all over the world.
2. Watch a Foreign Movie
Watching subtitled movies is another practical way to improve your language skill of listening, in addition to learning new words. It’s an educational and entertaining way for you at the same time.
3. Buy a Translation Book
One of the beneficial activities that you can do on this day is to level up your translation skills by buying a translation book that was translated by a creative translator. It’s an effective way to learn new vocabularies that improve your work in translation.
4. Donate for Translation
If you want to support translation, you can make donations to non-profit Organizations that aim to develop translation.
International Celebration Day Theme 2022
This year, the International Translation Day theme will be:” A World Without Barriers”. The first theme of this occasion was launched in 2014.
Here are the previous themes of this occasion:
- United in Translation – 2021.
- Finding the Words for a World in Crisis – 2020.
- Translation and Indigenous Languages during the International Year of Indigenous Languages – 2019.
- Translation: Promoting Cultural Heritage in Changing Times – 2018.
- Translation and Diversity – 2017.
- Translation and Interpreting – 2016.
- The Changing Face of Translating and Interpreting – 2015.
- Language Rights: Essential to All Human Rights – 2014.
Conclusion
International Translation Day, celebrated annually on September 30th, recognizes the crucial role of language professionals in connecting cultures and fostering global understanding. Initiated by the International Federation of Translators (FIT) in 1991 and formally recognized by the United Nations in 2017, this day coincides with the feast of St. Jerome, the Bible’s translator. The day highlights the contributions of translators, interpreters, and terminologists through various activities, including seminars, competitions, and award ceremonies. The UN’s St. Jerome Contest, open to staff members, showcases multilingual translation skills in official languages like Arabic, English, French, Russian, and German. FIT, a global non-governmental organization representing over 60,000 language professionals, champions the profession, advocates for translators’ rights, and promotes professional development.
Celebrations for International Translation Day range from simple gestures like gift-giving to more elaborate events. Gift ideas for translators include books, technology, and comfort items. Fun activities can include translation-themed games, parties, and group outings. Creating appreciation displays with personalized messages is another way to recognize translators’ contributions. international translation day activities such as learning a new language, exploring foreign films, or delving into translation-focused literature. Supporting translation-related non-profit organizations through donations is another meaningful way to observe the day. Each year, International Translation Day adopts a specific theme, with 2022’s focus being “A World Without Barriers,” emphasizing the power of translation to break down communication barriers.
