International Translation Day: Translators’ Reflections on the Profession and Its Significance

Join us as we unravel their experiences and challenges, and explore the evolving landscape of translation—a profession that plays a pivotal role in fostering global understanding and communication.

This is what our Senior Linguist Manager, Petra Šešljaga Paradi, told us about what International Translation Day means to her as a translator:

“I feel particularly proud on this day because I truly love my profession and I’m glad that there is a day dedicated to it. I hope that these kinds of celebrations will eventually contribute to greater visibility and awareness of the translation profession.”

When asked about the most common misconceptions people have about the translation profession and how she debunks them, she continued:

“I think that people, in general, don’t know much about translating, starting from the qualifications and knowledge that are needed for someone to become a good translator, all the way to the complexity, hard work, constant learning, and effort that needs to be invested every day in order to do the job well.

In addition, this profession is of great importance because it breaks down barriers between cultures and contributes to the creation of a feeling of equality and community. Therefore, we should speak more about translating, and International Translation Day is a big step towards greater acceptance and the destigmatisation of this profession.”

We also stopped Marijana, our Lead Linguist, in the middle of her busy everyday work schedule, and asked her a few questions over a cup of coffee . We were interested to hear more about the key skills a successful translator should have.

“Curiosity (in this case, it will not kill the cat, but rather improve one’s quality), willingness to learn and eagerness to find the right solution to a translation problem. Also, the ability to navigate successfully through various CAT tools, to swiftly upgrade one’s knowledge and to keep up to date with the latest trends as much as possible.”

She gave some advice on how to keep up with language trends, terminology, and industry changes in order to ensure high-quality translations:

“By following all the relevant sources, pages, organisations and the right people. You have to be interested in going forward and professional improvement, so you read and search. Sometimes the hype around certain trends can blur your perspective, so it is essential to stay focused and decide in which area you want to develop further.”

Mirna, a Senior Medical Linguist, elaborated on translation accuracy and cultural relevance. She also shared some advice for younger linguists who are in search of their own professional path:

“Language reflects the customs, beliefs, values and traditions of its speakers. This is why cultural nuances and context-specific expressions, such as idioms and regional variations, must be considered during translation. Translators must have a deep understanding of the target culture to accurately convey the message of the source text while also ensuring that it resonates with the target audience. This creates a sense of familiarity, closeness and connection, and target readers feel like the text is written for them in their native language instead of just being translated.”

Her best advice for aspiring translators or those considering a career in the field would be:

“Constantly improve your language proficiency, invest all your energy into learning innovative technologies and perfecting your translation skills, and treat language as an ever-evolving thing. Always stay motivated, choose a specialization that will highlight your best qualities and strive for success in both the professional and personal sense.”