International Translation Day

International Translation Day is an annual observance honoring the work of people who translate written texts and speech: written translators, interpreters, and terminologists and those who prepare glossaries and technical terminology. It is observed on 30 September each year.

The date 30 September is associated with Jerome (Hieronymus), known for translating the Holy Scripture into Latin (the Vulgate). For this reason, the date is traditionally regarded as marking the translation profession.

Origins and formal recognition

The International Federation of Translators (Fédération internationale des traducteurs, FIT), had long observed this day informally and called for its formal recognition worldwide. In 2017, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution recognizing 30 September as International Translation Day, highlighting the role of professional translation in connecting nations, promoting peace, and enabling development.

Aims and themes

The observance focuses on several issues: translation quality, workers' rights and professional status, preservation of minority languages, and the impact of technology such as machine translation and computer-assisted tools. Each year typically features a specific theme on which professional associations collaborate.

How it is observed

National translator associations, universities, language institutes, and international organizations hold the observance through conferences, training workshops, translation competitions, and book exhibitions. International organizations with extensive translation services also use the day to highlight the work of their language professionals.

Significance for Somali

For Somali, the observance underscores ongoing discussions about creating new terminology in science, health, and law, and translating official documents. It is also connected to the need for digital tools, such as Somali dictionaries and corpora, on which translators can rely.