Postcard from Bishkek

There is one job that I hate doing: Translation.

Normally, I refuse.  I am not a translator!  That’s quite a skilled and specific job and just because I know a little Russian – enough to get by – it doesn’t mean that I really understand the intricacies of the language; I have a limited vocabulary, lack the intimate knowledge of idioms, the custom of practice of the use of different words, and so forth.

I may “hate” translating, but I do get asked to do it quite often.  Sometimes it involves just a small text which is fairly easy to “translate”, and sometimes it follows a “formulae” as in the case of a   but sometimes the text is more complicated, specialized, using technical jargon or unfamiliar language constructs, and it is in these cases that I normally refuse.

On the other hand, I don’t mind proof reading texts that have already been translated by a professional, although that is a bit of joke bearing how bad I am at the job when it comes to checking my own texts.  On the other hand, it is notoriously difficult to proof read your own work.  I normally write texts, (postcards or whatever), one day, sleep on it and then re-read them the next.  Even so, an awful lot gets past me.  I tend to read what I think I have written rather than what I have written.  Of course, when the text has been written by someone else, I come to it fresh and it’s easier to ask yourself questions like “What is the author trying to say here?”

These days I can get some assistance from computerized translation services, such as that featured in Microsoft Word or in Google Chrome, but although I find these useful to get the gist of what a text is saying, I still find that often I have to go and ask one of my colleagues how they understand a particular passage.

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The role of the interpreter or translator has been around since time immemorial, I suppose that one could say ever since the tower of Babel, (if it ever existed).   With something like 7,000 languages spoken around the world, (and that is not counting the so called “dead” languages), and without translators communication between peoples, whether it be for  trade and cultural exchange, would be impossible:

• leaders of nations could not talk to each other – so translators are the brokers of peace and mutual understanding;
• scientific discoveries could not be shared and breaking news would not be able to reach a global audience - so translators are the purveyors of knowledge;
• literature, plays and films could be read only by those who speak the author’s language – so translators open these classics, (and other works), to a wider audience … helping to preserve many masterpieces which would otherwise be lost … and also making a wider range of choice available to the readier, or audience … in effect, they are cultural ambassadors;
• cross-border trade would come to a halt – so translators are instrumental in oiling the wheels of commerce and generating wealth and prosperity;
• sporting events like the Olympic Games or the Rugby World Cup could not be held; Nations in need of aid or emergency relief would not receive assistance from those more fortunate nations …
• … and so on … and so on.

Translators build bridges between peoples and cultures.  I have written before about the importance of bridges – but that was about physical objects rather than the more abstract concept.  Just as a bridge can be be vital to the survival, well being and sustainability of small remote mountain villages, so the metaphorical bridge provides the link that facilitates communication, helps create prosperity and enriches cultural experiences.

Although Nationalistic ideologies stress the importance or superiority of one group of peoples over others, it’s a general principle of modern liberal societies that different peoples deserve respect and that cultural diversity makes our world a better place.  That’s one reason why I am as happy to support the Tartar festival of Sabantui, the celebration of Georgian Independence Day, various aspects of Kyrgyz Culture as well as the Queen Birthday Party and other examples of British culture.

As it happens,  ”Bridging Cultures” is the theme of this year’s International Translation Day.

International Translation Day was introduced in 1991 by International Federation of Translators.  In fact, they have been commemorating the occasion since they were set up back in 1953 – they are as old as I am! – but the idea of creating an officially recognized day  to show solidarity amongst translators worldwide and promote translation as a profession in different countries – an increasingly important profession in this era of progressive globalisation.

(They chose September 30th for International Translation Day because it is the feast day of St. Jerome who translated the Latin Vulgate version of the Bible and who is considered to be the Patron Saint of Translators.)

The Federation unites 100 Associations from around the world, representing some 85,000 translators from 55 different countries – so they still have a long way to go to cover all the countries in the world … there isn’t a member in Kyrgyzstan, for example – and it has been granted the status of an official UNESCO consultative agency.

At their congress in Dubrovnik in 1966, the Federation approved the Transaltor’s Charter, (which was revised in 1994), which specifies the rights and duties of translators, (the document actually talks of “obligations” rather than “duties”),  and recommends the principles of their organisation into associations .

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To be honest, this the second postcard on this theme this week, (see Linking Cultures -Postcard from Bishkek) and I almost decided not to cover International Translation Day … but when I thought about it, it seems an important topic and well worth the risk of repetition.

 

Tags: Calendar, Expat, Language