Translation as career choice
28-Sep-2024
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Ranjan K Baruah
The diversity of language around the world is truly incredible. Different nations and communities speak different languages. There are languages which are used by millions and there are languages which are used by a few individuals. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights holds the Guinness World Record as the most translated document as it exists in more than 500 languages. The United Nations is one of the world's largest employers of language professionals and we should be aware that there are six official languages of the UN - Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. A delegate may speak in any official UN language. The speech is interpreted simultaneously into the other official languages of the UN.
We are talking about this because we see the importance of translation and it can be another career for many young people. Translation is often the essential prerequisite for accessing a universal, multiple, diverse culture. It translates ideas and experiences of one community to another.
There is an importance of language professionals or translators . International Translation Day which is observed on 30th September 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. 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 died near Bethlehem on 30 September 420.
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.
Job profiles for the translators can be editorial and desktop publishing assistants, content writer, interpreters, précis-writers, production editors and desktop publishers, translators, etc. United Nations translators handle all kinds of documents, from statements by Member States to reports prepared by expert bodies. The documents they translate cover every topic on the United Nations agenda, including human rights, peace and security, and development. Aspirants may get jobs in government agencies in India or in the private sector or different media houses and event management companies.
From the perspectives of the career we find that translators transmit cultural references, publication, and others literally or orally. In India, we see the importance of different people speaking different languages .There is a natural requirement for Indian and foreign language translators, both in the private and public segment. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in the translation business is expected to grow by 20% till 2029