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Happy International Translation Day !

International Translation Day, a major celebration of intercultural communication, is held every year on 30 September, the feast day of Saint Jerome, patron saint of translators.

The International Federation of Translators (FIT) has been celebrating this special day since it was founded in 1953. Then, in 1991, the Federation set in motion the idea of an officially recognized International Translation Day in order to showcase the solidarity that exists among the community of translators around the world and to promote translation professions in different countries. In its resolution 70/288 adopted on 24 May 2017, the United Nations General Assembly declared 30 September to be International Translation Day, which celebrates all that translation can accomplish. It enables people from different origins and cultures to understand one another. It can open the mind to other horizons.

This day highlights the essential role played by translators in making the world a smaller place by breaking down language barriers, bringing nations together, facilitating dialogue and promoting peace, cooperation, understanding and development. It is an opportunity to pay tribute to translators and underline the importance of their work, which is seen as being fundamental in this era of globalization.

On this occasion, UNESCO and the United Nations ask member States to support this initiative and protect the wealth of our world’s languages because “cultural diversity is as necessary for humankind as biodiversity is for nature” according to the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity.

The theme for 2022 is “a world without barriers: the role of language professionals in building culture, understanding and lasting peace” to pay tribute to the indispensable role of professional translation in connecting and gathering people together, beyond barriers of any kind.