Today is International Translation Day, and this year’s theme (as selected by FIT, the International Federation of Translators) is Translation: Bridging Cultures. Past ATA President Jiri Stejskal wrote a lovely text for the FIT website; here’s an excerpt:
The professional translators, interpreters and terminologists represented by FIT member associations build bridges between cultures and facilitate communication that creates prosperity and cultural enrichment. They are brokers of peace and mutual understanding. They open national literatures to the world. They make international assistance in disaster areas possible. They are the voice of politicians, religious and intellectual leaders, and all other people who influence our daily lives. They are gatekeepers of information. They are cultural ambassadors. They are absolutely indispensable
Beautiful, and true! Happy International Translation Day to everyone, however you plan to celebrate it!
And happy birthday to you!
Thank you!
Dear Corinne,
Thank you for your ITD greetings. It is encouraging to see ourselves as bridges of understanding and progress.
I am reading the second edition of your book “How to Succeed as a Freelance Translator” and I am truly grateful for all your insights and sound advice. I will write to you soon on a more private basis. But for the time being…
Thank you again and very much for all your work!
Happy International Translation Day to you too, and to all of the readers of Thoughts on Translation.
Angelica S.-TransCrear
Happy Birthday Corinne (and your significant other, as I just learned)! I have a semi-fine memory of drafting the text of the FIT press release at the Madrid airport under a silly deadline, thinking of what Chris Durban would do with this…
Thanks Jiri! The press release is fantastic (really!), and all the more so now that we know where you wrote it 🙂
Happy birthday then 🙂
Thank you!!