What is ‘International Translation Day’?
International Translation Day was established in 2017 by the United Nations.
The UN, the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union are the most important political institutions in Europe. Within these organisations, there are dedicated teams of translators responsible for translating institutional documents, which are then published on their websites and distributed worldwide to political figures from various states and to citizens. In addition, these teams also handle the translation of internal and confidential communications. This is why the importance of the translator’s role has been highlighted, as they are essential for clear communication and accurate understanding of translated texts, leading to the creation of International Translation Day.
30 September each year has therefore become International Translation Day, so that we can pay tribute to translators around the world through initiatives and events, recognise their true worth, and affirm the role of translation as a driver of peace, fraternity, economic development and social progress.
Why is International Translation Day held specifically on 30 September?
Wondering why this date was chosen? 30 September is the feast day of Saint Jerome.
Saint Jerome is known as the patron saint of translators and is thus recognised as one of the earliest linguists in history. In fact, it was Saint Jerome who produced the first translation of the Bible into Latin, known as the ‘Vulgate’.
The aim of International Translation Day is not only to pay tribute to translators worldwide, but also to promote and fully recognise the importance of translation itself—from marketing to the translation of legal texts, and the crucial role of translation in linguistic and cultural mediation. The cultural mediator is often a translator, tasked with applying their mediation skills in the field of cultural translation and interpretation.
What opportunities are there on the day dedicated to translation?
Celebrations vary across the globe, highlighting the skills a translator must possess to work in this field and the different types of translation depending on the sector. Translator associations themselves organise activities to bring linguists together and honour the profession.
Think of a book and the interest sparked in you as you read the preface. In the case of a foreign book, the translation of that preface into your language is the result of years of study, careful vocabulary choices and syntactic structuring to ensure the message matches what the author intended when writing the original work.
Your interest will depend on the coherence and originality of that translation!
On this late September day, there are also numerous online initiatives, from meetings between translators to the promotion of works translated by various publishers, and many hashtags are used to help spread translation as a culture for all.
Alpis and translation
On 30 September, discover our services entirely dedicated to translation! We are available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day to assist with your requests and answer your questions.
We place translation and the translator at the heart of our mission and work actively to ensure every stage of the translation process is carried out to the highest quality. Celebrate the day dedicated to translation with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and share your ideas and experiences on our platforms—we look forward to hearing from you!