The importance of translation studies

Though there is no proper evidence about the inception of translation, there is one thing about which critics agree that it was present even before the Bible. The first ever translated book was “The Epic of Gilgamesh”. This book was translated into Asian languages from Greek. Hence since the start of civilization, translation has played its role in cultural and linguistic exchange. It has helped humans to exchange information in an accurate way. Today, the number of languages has increased many times. So in addition to communication, translation has its importance in the business industry as well. The need for right translation company is needed in every field, whether it’s business, personal communication, education, or medicine. It is a translation that preaches the importance of communication and cultural exchange.

The increasing demand for accurate and top-notch translation solutions brings focus to translation studies. In this read, we are going to talk ‌about translation studies and their importance in the translation industry.

What are translation studies?

In simple terms, translation studies are the academic coursework that delve into the theory, practical, and analysis of translating languages. Students enroll in undergraduate and postgraduate programs in Translation and Interpreting Studies (TIS) where MA in Translation and Interpreting (MATI) is the most popular one. These programs come under the Humanities Studies section in Language and Translation Studies degrees. Even MPhil and PhD programs are famous which are extremely crucial for a translator who aims to work in professional translation agency. These study programs help translators build knowledge in the source and target languages so that accuracy becomes the key component of their work in the future.

Translation studies draw from various academic fields such as philology, computer science, terminology, semiotics, comparative literature, linguistics, and history. Students learn two things in translation studies:

• The practicality of applying translation tactics on the source language to convert it into the target language.
• The second thing is understanding the root cause of translation so that translators can keep the source intent in the target language as real as possible.

It is the job of a translation studies student to learn about the current trends in the translation industry so that his/her work is not only flawless but also exhibits innovation and adaptability as per global communication standards.

Significance of translation studies

As mentioned earlier, accuracy and perfection in the translated work are the main goals of translation studies. Actually, this goal was kept in mind when American linguist Eugene Nida proposed the modern translation theory in 1964. Later in 1972, James Holmes came up with “The Name and Nature of Translation Studies” and wanted translation as a separate discipline. Hence, came forward translation studies as an educational degree, just like a doctorate and engineering. The reason behind introducing translation as a full-fledged degree is to provide theoretical and practical concepts about translation.

Why do you think we know about the translation of the book “The Epic of Gilgamesh” into Asian languages? Translation has not only protected the first ever written literary piece of work but has also kept the culture alive. The preservation of culture is the main element of why we need translation studies to be a proper degree. It’s not just some simple conversion of words from one language to another, rather it’s the conversion of words into a language for the purpose of introducing one societal concept to another. We are talking about conveying one culture to another one while making sure that there is no rivalry between people of those two cultures.

Globalization

The sudden rise in the significance of translation is because of the enhanced need for globalization. With globalization, there is an incessant importance of cross-cultural communication and international collaboration. This is where translation services are required to ensure seamless communication via accurate translation. Translation bridges the communication gaps flawlessly and helps businesses acquire their goals.

Certified and official translations

Imagine you need to translate your English book into Spanish and you need Spanish translators for the job. Now who would you give this task of translation to a translator who has proven experience of similar work, has an English to Spanish translation studies degree, certifications to prove he/she is professional, or to a translator who speaks both English and Spanish? Of course, you will hire the one who has the degree and certifications.

Translators who have studied translation studies are certified translators who can provide you with official translations. Their work goes beyond simple language proficiency and includes cultural nuances and linguistic intricacies. These translators are accredited by official bodies and regulatory institutions, making their translated works flawless and legally valid.

Final words!

To sum up, translation studies showcase that translators are professionals and have the certification to prove every word they translate. When they take responsibility for their work, it represents their code of conduct. This educational degree teaches theoretical as well as practical information.

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