The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, through the National Language Service Chief Directorate, joins the world in celebrating International Translation Day (ITD).
The celebration offers an opportunity to draw attention to the importance of language practitioners, especially translators, terminologists and interpreters, whose invaluable contribution to communication often remains unacknowledged and unknown.
ITD acknowledges the contribution of not only translators but also language practitioners in general to bridging the communication divide across various languages and cultures.
This year's celebration is under the theme: “Linguistic Diversity and Language Rights,” with the subtitle: “The power of being understood”.
Among others, the theme highlights the fundamental role of translation, interpreting and terminology in fostering inclusion, equity and participation in an increasingly interconnected world.
“The role of translation and language practice in general is invaluable in fostering social cohesion and promoting nation-building by ensuring that communities access quality governmental information and services irrespective of the language they speak, and in turn, they are enabled to hold government accountable,” the department said.
The actual day, 30 September, was selected for the celebration because it is the feast day of St Jerome, a Christian scholar and priest who was the first person to translate the Bible into Latin from the original Hebrew.
St. Jerome has long been considered the patron saint of translators and interpreters throughout the world. - SAnews.gov.za
