Today, 30th September, people around the world will
be observing International Translation Day (known by some as St
Jerome’s Day). It’s a call to recognise and promote the translation
profession, and to understand the value it can bring to
intercultural relations and business.
As the sector skills body for translation,
CILT, the National Centre for Languages considers interpretation
and translation to be integral to the UK’s ability to compete
effectively in a global economy. Indeed, CILT’s new Agenda for
Languages calls for a more informed use of specialist interpreters
and translators, and an increased recognition of public service
interpreters, rather than a reliance on untrained volunteers.
It’s a message that becomes all the more
pertinent at a time when European Institutions are calling out for
more native translators. Without an increase in the number of
qualified graduates, they are set to lose at least one third of
their English language interpreters by 2015 due to retirement.
Sarah Lambert, Acting Head of the European
Commission's Representation in London, says: "One of the
challenges we face is convincing people in the UK that
English, for all its inherent benefits, is simply not enough.
English-language linguists are an increasingly rare commodity and
the European Institutions are looking to
recruit some 70 translators and interpreters with English
mother tongue over the next few years to bridge the
gap. This translates into attractive employment
opportunities for British graduates”.
The National Network for Translation and
the National Network for Interpreting, run in partnership with CILT
and Routes into Languages, will be raising awareness of the
translation profession at the
Routes into Languages conference on 27th October in
Birmingham. The event will give language teaching professionals
plenty of ideas for motivating young learners by showing how
languages can help with careers.
More information on careers in translation and
interpreting can be found on CILT’s Languages
Work website.