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International Translation Day 2017: History and Activities

We are celebrating because September 30th, International Translation Day, is now very near.

To mark the occasion, we dedicate this article to all our collaborators that are the bridge between languages and cultures, and who work with us every day to achieve that.

This celebration has no other purpose than to acknowledge the invisible task of translators, working from the shadows, but so necessary to achieve understanding between countries that might be neighbors but speak languages that are so different that, without knowing them, they are very difficult to understand.

Why on September 30th?

The celebration takes place each year on September 30th since it was created in 1953 by the IFT (International Federation of Translators) in order to pay homage to the theologian and linguist Jerome of Stridon (340-420 AD), Bible translator and patron saint of translators, by commemorating his death. Saint Jerome took 27 years to translate the Bible (Old and New Testament) from Greek and Hebrew to Vulgar Latin (Vulgata Latina),common language of the Roman Empire, commissioned by Pope Damasus, and with the help of three assistants. The task was so arduous that he was on the verge of abandoning it on several occasions due to fatigue, stress, lack of resources and persecution by the Roman authorities. Therefore, he became an example for the translation community.

On May, 24th, 2017, the United Nations declared September 30th International Translation Day:

Welcoming also the cooperation of the Secretary-General with
the network of universities that have signed a memorandum of understanding with the
United Nations on the training of candidates for language competitive examinations,
and recognizing the role of this cooperation in channeling
talent towards the United Nations language services,

1. Affirms that professional translation, as a trade and an art,
plays an important role in upholding the purposes and principles of the Charter of the
United Nations, bringing nations together, facilitating dialogue, understanding and
cooperation, contributing to development and strengthening world peace and security;

2. Decides to declare 30 September International Translation Day;