Why is translation relevant today: ideas for future translators

Abstract

Cultural, educational and professional frameworks recognised by our civilization have been formulated as texts. Translation is the only method allowing for their global dissemination. Religions, literatures, learning theories and organizational cultures are “products” of translation. Yet, the relevance of translation is not only a matter of the past. It is argued in this article that translation is relevant today. In its educational aspect, translation can help realize that language differences are a resource in text comprehension and meaning making. Professional benefits of translating include language fluency that is more than a technical skill: it enables recognising nuances of meaning and sense, allowing for realistic language use. It can be a core advantage for specialists in creative industry, for industry analysts and for lots of other professionals engaging in cross-cultural interactions. Finally, being a translator one has a transversal competence of service provision.