Source Text:

The role of language professionals

International Translation Day is meant as an opportunity to pay tribute to the work of language
professionals, which plays an important role in bringing nations together, facilitating dialogue,
understanding and cooperation, contributing to development and strengthening world peace and security.

Transposition of a literary or scientific work, including technical work, from one language into another
language, professional translation, including translation proper, interpretation and terminology, is
indispensable to preserving clarity, a positive climate and productiveness in international public discourse
and interpersonal communication.

Thus, on 24 May 2017, the General Assembly adopted resolution 71/288 on the role of language
professionals in connecting nations and fostering peace, understanding and development, and declared 30
September as International Translation Day.

Why 30 September?

30 September celebrates the feast of St. Jerome, the Bible translator, who is considered the patron saint of
translators.

St. Jerome was a priest from North-eastern Italy, who is known mostly for his endeavor of translating
most of the Bible into Latin from the Greek manuscripts of the New Testament. He also translated parts
of the Hebrew Gospel into Greek. He was of Illyrian ancestry and his native tongue was the Illyrian
dialect. He learned Latin in school and was fluent in Greek and Hebrew, which he picked up from his
studies and travels. Jerome died near Bethlehem on 30 September 420.

Every year since 2005, the United Nations invites all its staff, accredited permanent missions’ staff and
students from select partner universities to compete in the UN St. Jerome Translation Contest, a contest
which rewards the best translations in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish, as well as
German, and aims to celebrate multilingualism and highlight the important role of translators and other
language professionals in multilateral diplomacy.

Multilingualism, a core value of the United Nations

Languages, with their complex implications for identity, communication, social integration, education and
development, are of strategic importance for people and the planet.

There is growing awareness that languages play a vital role in development, in ensuring cultural diversity
and intercultural dialogue, but also in attaining quality education for all and strengthening cooperation, in
building inclusive knowledge societies and preserving cultural heritage, and in mobilizing political will
for applying the benefits of science and technology to sustainable development.

An essential factor in harmonious communication among peoples, multilingualism is also regarded by the
United Nations General Assembly as a core value of the Organization. By promoting tolerance,
multilingualism ensures effective and increased participation of all in the Organization’s work, as well as
greater effectiveness, better performance and improved transparency.
Activity 1)

Instructions: Identify the type of source text.

Purpose:

Genre:

Linguistic traits:

Source language

Target language:

Activity 2)

Instructions: Translate section 1 of the text using dynamic equivalence

Activity 3)

Instructions: Translate section 3 of the text using formal correspondence

Activity 4)

Instructions: answer the following questions

1. What is the International standard that regulates translation services?

2. According to the previous question answer, define the following
a. Content
b. source language
c. natural language
d. text-type convention
e. domain
f. translation
g. CAT
h. MTPE
i. style guide
j. proofread