On its website, FIT reminds us that the United Nations General Assembly has declared 30 September as International Translation Day, and that it is already working with the United Nations in preparation for the International Year of Indigenous Languages, to be celebrated in 2019.

In the light of this collaboration with the UN, FIT has this year chosen to celebrate the role of translation in promoting cultural heritage.

According to UNESCO, cultural heritage is not limited to monuments and collections of artefacts. It also includes intangible cultural heritage, i.e. practices, knowledge and skills that communities acknowledge as part of their cultural heritage.

Heritage is constantly being reshaped by several factors. For example, in this era of globalisation, cultures that were previously separated have been brought into contact with one another. As further pointed out by UNESCO, it is therefore important to promote ‘intercultural dialogue, and [to encourage] mutual respect for other ways of life’ by becoming acquainted with the intangible cultural heritage of different communities.

Translators perform this role of ‘go-between’ on a daily basis. Through their work, they promote mutual respect between communities. It is this daily effort that FIT salutes this year by highlighting translation’s role in promoting cultural heritage in changing times.

To find out more:
Click here to visit the website of the International Federation of Translators.

Photo source: FIT