The FIT Legal Translation Standing Committee prepared draft guidelines on court translators and interpreters working conditions. The document is based on the survey of job satisfaction level conducted between court translators and interpreters in 2023. During the round table members of the LTSC will share results of the survey and explain the general concept and purpose of the guidelines. The draft will further be subject to possible amendments based on the feedback collected during the round table.
Lawyer and Sworn Translator in the National and Federal Courts of the City of Buenos Aires, member of the Association of Sworn Translators of the city of Buenos Aires, the Association of Sworn Translators and Interpreters of the Province of Buenos Aires, the Buenos Aires Bar Association and the American Translators Association.
Claire Richardot
Sworn translator in France, Member of the French Society of Translators and member-expert of its commission on sworn translators and interpreters, member of the French association of expert translators in courts of appeal (UNETICA).
Alexander Larin
PhD in Law, assistant professor, author of the law course for translation students and legal initiatives on sworn translation, Board Member and Chief Legal Officer of the Union of Translators of Russia, CEO of Alba Translating Company
Theme: Translation, an art worth protecting – improving good translation as an art, possibilities, and pitfalls
Based on the ITD theme for 2024, this panel discussion will explore the issues of copyright, language rights and the future of the profession in the context of recent technological change.
Good translation is an art worth protecting. Poor translation is not. In the light of the recent technological developments, artificial intelligence (generative AI), LLM (Large Language Models), improved neural machine translation, we will discuss if and how we can improve good translation as an art, possibilities, and pitfalls. What are opportunities, what are threats? Its violation of copyrights. Its machine generated literature.
Translation is many things: literary, audiovisual, scientific, legal, technical, financial, etc. Its terminology, its culture, its locale, its style, its target groups and intended readers. Its translanguaging and text-generative AI.
Can text-generative AI technology support translanguaging practices and multilingual communicative competence, or do we risk the technology creating (even) greater linguistic uniformity? Based on the ITD theme for 2024, the webinar seeks to explore the issues of copyright, language rights and the future of the profession in the context of recent technological change.
Panelists
Cristina Valentini, Head of Terminology Unit, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Cristina Valentini
Rencontres européennes de la traduction littéraire European Conference on Literary Translation
3 – 4 Oct 2024
In celebration of the UNESCO World Book Capital programme, CEATL (European Council of Literary Translators’ Associations) is hosting the European Conference on Literary Translation in this Year’s World Book Capital, Strasbourg.
The event will showcase all aspects of literary translation: translators, writers, publishers, booksellers, librarians, book festivals and fairs, and organisations supporting literary translation in Europe.
Hosted by the European Parliament in Strasbourg, the conference sessions will discuss challenges facing the sector, including accessibility and diversity, artificial intelligence, freedom of speech, cooperation and best practice, among other topics.
Plenary sessions will be livestreamed in French, English and German, and the videos will then be posted on the CEATL website.
This webinar, “Indigitalization: The (un)colonizing of computer practices in Indigenous language and culture”, explores how technology plays a role in untethering Indigenous languages and culture from the grand narrative of a Westernized world view that sees itself as the sole creator and proprietor of all modern technology, specifically computer technology. This talk, offered by Prof. Jon Corbett, explores the (un)colonization of computer hardware, and stories the development of a physical keyboard for the nêhiyaw orthography (i.e. Plains Cree), designed and built from nêhiyaw cultural knowledge.
Speaker’s Bio:
Jon Corbett is an Assistant Professor with Lived Indigenous Experience in the School of Interactive Art & Technology at Simon Fraser University (Burnaby, Canada). His research focuses on Indigenous forms of expression through “Indigitalization”, which he describes as a computational creative practice that braids together Indigenous and decolonial computing practices facilitated through traditional and computer-based expressive media art forms.
You can also celebrate with FIT at our ITD webinar, to be held on 27 September 2024. More details will be available soon.
Inspired by issues surrounding copyright, this year’s International Translation Day (ITD) theme embraces the recognition of translations as original creative works in their own right, owed the benefit of copyright protection under the Berne Convention. As the creators of derivative works, translators have fought to protect their moral rights to be credited for their translation work, control any changes to that work, and receive appropriate remuneration. Protecting these simple things will ensure a sustainable future for translation professionals and the historic art of translation itself.
Copyright-related issues extend far into all areas of the profession, including the use of translations in the cultural sector, literary translation, publishing and legal translation. With the development of AI and the expansion of the digital sphere, the implications of copyright for translators, interpreters and terminologists have increased exponentially. Attribution of translation in the digital sphere is more and more crucial, in addition to allowing translators to receive recognition for their efforts, it clearly signals the source of a text, identifying it as human rather than AI generated content.
ITD has been an important date celebrated in the FIT calendar for over 35 years, with FIT Council creating an annual theme as the basis for the celebrations. Since 2017, 30 September has been internationally recognised as International Translation Day, a day to be celebrated across the entire UN global network. It honours the contribution of professional translators, interpreters and terminologists in connecting nations, and fostering peace and global development and emphasises translation’s important political and cultural role in multilateralism and multilingualism.
The theme of ITD 2024 calls for us to protect translation as an art, protect copyright and related rights, and protect our livelihoods, thereby ensuring the future and sustainability of our profession. So, let’s celebrate our creativity, longevity and unity on September 30, to mark International Translation Day 2024.
Join us in celebrating Translation as an art worth protecting.
International Translation Day
Each year, translators, interpreters and terminologists celebrate International Translation Day on 30 September, the feast of St. Jerome. A unifying theme is chosen each year and a competition is held to design a poster for FIT members to print and use to promote the day and join together in celebrating our professions.
In 2017 we achieved an historical milestone for all professional translators, interpreters and terminologists, with the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopting Resolution A/RES/71/288, recognising the role of professional translation in connecting nations, and fostering peace, understanding and development. In the same resolution, the United Nations General Assembly declared 30 September to be UN International Translation Day, celebrated across the entire UN network.
Themes and posters of previous years
ITD 2023: Translation unveils the many faces of humanity
ITD 2022: A world without barriersITD 2021: United in translationITD 2020: Finding the words for a world in crisis
ITD 2019: Translation and Indigenous LanguagesITD 2018: Translation: promoting cultural heritage in changing timesITD 2017: Translation and diversity
ITD 2016: Connecting worldsITD 2015: The changing face of translation and interpretingITD 2013: Beyond linguistic barriers – a united world
FIT World Congress 2025 WIPO HQ, Geneva 4- 6 September 2025 Exploring the theme: Mastering the Machine: shaping an intelligent future www.fit-ift.org
Join delegates from across the globe as they meet in the heart of Geneva for three days of immersion in the field of translating and interpreting, cutting-edge research, workshops, discussion and networking opportunities.
FIT Congress with a twist
This congress will be unlike any other. Instead of being hosted by a member association (sadly Costa Rica could not go ahead due to force majeure), it will be hosted by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), one of FIT’s external partners. WIPO is a specialized agency of the United Nations whose mission is to lead the development of a balanced and effective global intellectual property system that enables innovation and creativity for the benefit of all. This event therefore promises a prestigious setting on the shores of Lake Geneva at the foot of the Alps for an extraordinary gathering of professionals.
What to Expect?
Cutting-edge Research: Discover the latest advancements.
Thought-provoking Discussions: Engage in meaningful conversations.
Networking Opportunities: Build connections with peers and leaders.
Stimulating presentations: Be inspired.
Why Attend?
In these transformative times of constant and rapid change, staying ahead of the curve is crucial. The FIT World Congress offers a unique opportunity to gain insights, share knowledge, and collaborate with other passionate professionals. Network with a diverse, international audience of practitioners, researchers, service providers, key thinkers, advocates and decision makers all in one place.
Be Part of the Future
We are at a pivotal moment in history, and the XXIII FIT World Congress in Geneva is the perfect platform to explore the evolving landscape of our profession. Add your voice and perspective.
Theme
The event theme “Mastering the Machine: shaping an intelligent future” delves into the critical issues surrounding artificial intelligence and its relationship with all areas of translation, interpreting and terminology.
The FIT World Congress will look broadly at the following areas:
AI technology, it’s impact, benefits and risks for the profession
Ethical issues surrounding technology,
The crucial importance of the humanities and creativity in the AI era,
Audio visual translation and accessibility,
The intersection of AI, literary translation, and copyright
Indigenous languages: translation and interpreting, preservation, revitalisation and culture
Globalization, policy and economic effect on language services
The use of digital tools in multilingual contexts and language research
Future proofing the future of the profession: New skills in training and professional development;
Sustainability of the profession
Language and conflict; human rights
The International Federation of Translators’ XXIII World Congress will be held in Geneva, on 4-6 September 2025.
The International Federation of Translators (FIT) is sad to announce the passing of renown Cuban poet, writer and translator, Julia Calzadilla, winner of the Federation’s Astrid Lindgren Prize for Translation of Children’s Literature in 2014, as informed by her home association, the Cuban Association of Translators and Interpreters (ACTI).
Internationally acclaimed and awarded, Julia also earned Cuba’s National Culture award (1996), the Juan Ortega Gatell Award (ESTI, 1999) for the Best Professional of the Year, and the Gitana Tropical (Havana Provincial Directorate of Culture, 2002), awarded for her outstanding contribution to Cuban culture.
Born in Havana, she graduated in Art History from the University of Havana, and worked as a text and literary translator, as well as a simultaneous interpreter into Spanish from English, French, Italian and Portuguese, at national and international events.
FIT celebrates her creative spirit and her extensive contribution to the profession. She will be sadly missed by her FIT and ACTI colleagues, family and friends.
Friday, May 10th, 2024 1 pm to 2 pm Paris (UTC+2) 7am to 8am New York 7pm to 8pm Beijing 9pm to 10pm Sydney Recording will be made available to all registrants.
Numbers don’t lie: The language industry continues growing, and the demand for language services is at an all-time high. And yet, we find ourselves in a peculiar moment of the industry’s growth trajectory, with professionals and companies wondering how their future will look, with AI especially being seen as the great disruptor coming for our jobs. Perhaps surprisingly, localization managers on the client-side report that AI is driving renewed interest in languages from their companies. Is there hope that AI is not on the hunt for our jobs after all? AI will continue to shape our industry, so how do we reinvent the rules of the game to enable us to continue growing personally and professionally? In this one-hour session, we’ll talk about the global state of the industry in 2023/2024, the transformation we’re undergoing. We will also shed light on what is the reality of those first in line tasked with bringing AI in localization to life — the localization teams — and discuss prospects for future reinvention, in a world where human and machine thrive alongside each other.
Speaker’s Bio:
Gabriel is an independent industry researcher, consultant, and former COO of a global market research firm. With over a decade in the language industry, Gabriel has worn many hats, from onboarding new clients as a business developer to hands-on work on projects in 100+ languages, from deconstructing industry trends to advising clients on how to talk to global audiences.
The webinar will be conducted in English only and will last one hour (45 minutes of presentation and 15 minutes of Q&A). A recording will be made available to registrants after the event.
Translators and authors join forces as AI brings challenges along with opportunities
Two of the world’s leading professional bodies dealing with the AI explosion, authors and translation professionals, are collaborating on a response to a lack of regulation in the digital sphere, and the implications for copyright law and authorship rights.
IAF panel on the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Authorship: Navigating Copyright, Ownership and Rights. L to R: Andrew Foglia (Deputy Director, Office of Policy and International Affairs, US Copyright Office), Michelle Woods (Director, Copyright Law Division, WIPO), Authors Guild CEO, Mary Rasenberger (Chair), Steven Levy (Technology Journalist, WIRED Magazine), Umair Kazi (Director of Policy and Advocacy, The Authors Guild), and Alison Rodriguez (FIT President).
The International Federation of Translators (FIT) and the International Authors Forum (IAF) are working to help their members respond to the legal and ethical minefields posed by increased use of AI in their respective fields.
FIT president Alison Rodriguez was invited to the IAF’s Annual General Meeting in New York as an observer and to participate in discussions taking place alongside the meeting.
“Synergies between authors and translators have never been stronger, especially when dealing with unrestricted use of our work to train AI and a lack of recognition of our members’ expertise or their rights,” said FIT President, Alison Rodriguez.
“Like the Hollywood actors and writers had to draw a line in the sand to say ‘humans matter’, we also need urgent action by lawmakers, businesses and the general public to allow us to use this technology fairly, safely, and ethically.”
She added that the problem was compounded by differences between jurisdictions, as translation professionals often live and work across geographical and cultural boundaries.
A series of panels highlighted the close parallels between the challenges and changes faced by both translators and authors in the digital environment.
Ms Rodriguez joined participants Andrew Foglia from the US Copyright Office, Umair Kazi of The Authors Guild, WIRED Magazine’s Steven Levy and Michelle Woods from WIPO on a discussion panel titled ‘The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Authorship: Navigating Copyright, Ownership and Rights’ chaired by Authors Guild CEO Mary Rasenberger.
In the second panel of the day, moderated by Janet Hicks (VP, Artists’ Rights Society), a discussion of current legal cases in defence of authors’ rights took place between panellists Paulina Holmgren (President, Swedish Association of Professional Photographers), Scott Sholder (Attorney, Associate to Artists’ Rights Society) and Christian Zimmerman (CEO, Design & Artists Copyright Society).
As part of the event, John Degen, Chair of IAF, reiterated the importance of the art of translation as integral to the growth and support of global literature, and the value of a strong working relationship between both associations focusing on shared concerns.
Like FIT, the International Authors Forum collaborates with UNESCO and the World Intellectual Property Organization on cultural and copyright matters, and campaigns at both national and international levels. The IAF represents more than 700,000 authors worldwide and campaigns for their interests, providing national authors’ organisations with an international platform to exchange information, develop policy positions, and provide support in matters concerning authors’ rights.
