Last year, I made a quick research in Google where I asked about the worst risks faced by my colleagues Interpreters and Translators. I got some interesting answers like the risk of not getting paid for an assignment, the risk of leaking confidential information, and other risks related to the prestige of the professional and the good health of someone who lives a sedentary life (Stress, obesity, hypertension). Special mention to COVID related risks and how they lead to do more work from home / online. Today, we can see daily news about Interpreters in Afghanistan and the risks they face due to their previous interpreting jobs between local population and foreign institutions such as foreign troops, diplomats, NGO’s.
But the risks have been always there. In 2019, I wrote an article about the Bible and translations. One of the topics I wrote was about the translators of the bible that for different reasons were killed. We have the case of William Tyndale, who translated the Bible into English, was executed in 1536. Jan Hus, who helped with the translation of the Bible into Czech language, was executed in 1415. But assassination of Bible translators still happen in our times. Just last year, Yeremia Zanambani, an Indonesian translator of the Bible was killed; in 2019, Angus Fung and Benjamin Tem, were killed in 2019 in Cameron.
But the Bible is not the only text for which translators have risked their lives. Special mention has the book “The Satanic Verses”, a real threat for those who accept the task of translating it. Hitoshi Igarashi, the translator of this book into Japanese, was assassinated in 1991. During the same year, Ettore Capriolo, the translator of this book into Italian, was stabbed in his apartment, although he finally survived.
This year, the press reported how some high profile translators have been victims of discrimination. Marieke Lucas Rijneveld, who was chosen to translate the poem “The Hill We Climb” into Dutch, was forced to quit after receive strong critics, based on.... her race!. Similar experience was suffered by Catalan translator Victor Obiols, who was also dismissed from an assignment due to his race.
A couple of years ago, I met an interpreter specialized in a language spoken in a well-known region of Asia. She told me that one day after an assignment, a client made a formal complain against her. The reason.... Her religion! I couldn’t believe it.
The new reality of working from home using online technology to translate is showing that there are new risks for interpreters who work in simultaneous translation. Interpreters who work in the Canadian Parliament are reporting injuries such as hearing loss, tinnitus, headaches and Nausea, consistent with “Acoustic shock” that is causing that more interpreters go on leave . Interpreters who work for other institutions using online technology have been complaining about similar issues. Acoustic shock is not a new problem, but cases have increased at the same time, interpreters are using new technologies that allow them to work remotely. Some of those problems may be due to transmission delays, and others that make alter the real time perception of the speech that needs to be interpreted.
On September 30th we celebrate the International translation day. This day was established in 1991 to show solidarity with the global translation community and to promote this profession. In a world that is more interconnected, translators, interpreters and other language professionals help to ensure communication between different countries and to understand different cultures. They deserve our recognition and their work deserves our utmost respect. It is not fair that their integrity and their lives are used as scapegoats for political situations that make their profession more risky than it should be. To our language heroes, for the celebration of the International Translation Day, I wish you much success and the best rewards from your work.
Happy International Translation Day!
Bonne Journée mondiale de la traduction !
¡Feliz Día Internacional de la Traducción!
Feliĉan Internacian Tagon pri Tradukado !
Buona Giornata mondiale della traduzione!
Вітаємо із днем перекладача!
יום התרגום הבינלאומי שמח
روز جهانی ترجمه خجسته باد
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