Staff Reporter
THE Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB), an entity of the National Department of Sport, Arts and Culture in collaboration with Sol Plaatje University, marked International Translation Day in the Northern Cape last week.
The annual International Translation Day event occurred on Thursday, 12 October 2023, at the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature in Kimberly.
The event aimed to promote linguistic diversity and multilingualism by advocating for the use of translation and interpreting services. It also paid tribute to the work of translators, terminologists, interpreters, and language practitioners who break down language barriers and allow great literature to be enjoyed far more widely.
The 2023 International Translation Day is observed under the theme “Translation unveils the many faces of humanity”. This theme aims to encourage language practice students to use their languages to preserve their cultures and histories.
The event highlighted technological innovations that have taken translations to a much higher and more sophisticated level. This includes the Human Language Technologies funded by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.
These advancements support translators’ work by providing them with computer-generated translations, glossaries, and translation memories. This facilitates speed, consistency, and, ultimately, high-quality work.
The International Translation Day observation forms part of the continued efforts of the institution to emphasise that the operations of translation and language practice, in general, are constantly evolving to respond to the changing environment.
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