Celebrating International Translation Day 2023

The History of International Translation Day

Why 30 September?

The date marks the feast of St Jerome. He was a priest and scholar who translated most of the Bible into Latin. His version, later called the Vulgate, shaped European history for centuries. Jerome died near Bethlehem on 30 September 420. Since then, many people have seen him as the patron saint of translators.

From a professional event to a UN observance

The International Federation of Translators (FIT) formed in 1953. Since its early years, it has promoted celebrations on this date. Then, in 1991, FIT proposed an officially recognised International Translation Day. The aim was simple: to give a largely invisible profession a moment of pride.

Global recognition followed on 24 May 2017. On that day, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 71/288. The resolution recognises how language professionals connect nations and support peace and development. It also declared 30 September International Translation Day. You can read more on the official UN observance page.

Annual themes for International Translation Day

Each year, FIT announces a theme. For example, the 2019 theme was “Translation and Indigenous Languages”, in the International Year of Indigenous Languages. In 2020, during the pandemic, the theme was “Finding the words for a world in crisis”. Later, 2024 focused on “Translation, an art worth protecting”. Then 2025 chose “Translation, shaping a future you can trust”. Although the themes change, the message stays the same: language professionals help societies understand one another.

Why International Translation Day Matters in Africa

Africa is home to a huge share of the world’s languages. Estimates usually range from about 1,250 to over 2,000, depending on how experts separate languages from dialects. Many Africans also speak several languages each day. For instance, someone may use a home language, a trade language and an official language such as English or French.

This multilingualism is a strength. However, it also means vital information does not reach everyone on its own. So International Translation Day is a good moment to ask who your messages actually reach.

Language access and development

Health campaigns, farming advice and voter education work better in a language people know well. The same is true for court cases and public notices. During outbreaks such as Ebola and COVID-19, health partners relied on translated messages. They also used interpreters at community meetings to explain symptoms and prevention.

Preserving African languages

Translation also keeps languages alive. When books, school materials and digital content appear in African languages, those languages gain new words and readers. In addition, UNESCO’s International Decade of Indigenous Languages, from 2022 to 2032, has boosted efforts to protect minority languages. Translation sits at the heart of that work.

Regional integration

Bodies such as the African Union and the East African Community work in several languages. Likewise, trade and diplomacy across the continent depend on reliable translation and interpretation. Kiswahili has grown as a regional language in East Africa. Meanwhile, French, Arabic and Portuguese link other parts of the continent.

International Translation Day and Uganda’s Languages

Uganda shows clearly why International Translation Day matters. English and Kiswahili are the official languages; Kiswahili gained that status in 2005. Beyond these, Ugandans speak more than 40 indigenous languages from the Bantu, Nilotic and Central Sudanic families.

These include Luganda, Runyankole, Lusoga, Acholi and Ateso, among many others. Uganda also hosts more than two million refugees, who bring languages from South Sudan, the DRC, Burundi and beyond.

As a result, translators and interpreters in Uganda work on a wide range of tasks:

• Health messages and research surveys in local languages
• Court interpretation and legal papers for people who do not speak English
• NGO manuals, training guides and reports
• Interpretation for regional conferences and meetings
• Certificates and transcripts for study or work abroad
• Subtitles for films, media and training videos

The Changing Role of the Translator

The profession has changed a lot in recent years. Today, many linguists use translation memory, term databases and machine translation tools. These tools speed up some tasks. However, they also raise questions about quality, privacy and the value of human skill.

For many African languages, machine translation still struggles, because little digital text exists to train it. Even in major languages, automated output can miss tone, culture and legal precision. Therefore, human translators remain vital for medical, legal, financial and humanitarian work. Many professionals now also edit machine output, which needs the same deep language knowledge.

Interpreting has changed too. Remote interpreting by video and phone is now common. For example, a meeting in Kampala can include an interpreter in another country. This improves access, but it also brings new issues, such as poor sound, fatigue and data security.

How to Celebrate International Translation Day

International Translation Day is a chance for everyone to notice the role of language. Here are some practical ideas.

For organisations and NGOs

• Thank the translators and interpreters behind your programmes, publicly if they agree.
• Check whether your key information exists in your communities’ languages.
• Share a short story about how translation helped one of your projects.
• Invite a language professional to train staff on working with interpreters.

For schools and universities

• Run a contest, such as translating a proverb or short poem into local languages.
• Discuss idioms that are hard to translate, and what they reveal about culture.
• Ask students to collect words and sayings from older relatives.

For language professionals

• Join a professional association and take part in its events.
• Mentor new translators and share what you know.
• Plan your own training, for example in a new specialist field.

For everyone on International Translation Day

• Read a book translated from, or into, an African language.
• Learn a few phrases in a neighbour’s language.
• Share the day online, so more people value the profession.

What Makes a Good Translator or Interpreter?

Speaking two languages is only the starting point. Professional linguists need a much wider set of skills. Below are the qualities that clients in Uganda and across Africa should look for.

Deep knowledge of both languages

A good translator usually works into their mother tongue. As a result, the final text reads naturally. They also understand the source language well enough to catch irony, tone and hidden meaning.

Subject expertise

Medical, legal and financial texts each use their own terms. So a strong translator either knows the field or researches it with care. For example, a health survey needs different words from a land contract.

Cultural awareness

Every language carries customs, humour and taboos. A skilled linguist knows when a direct phrase may offend. They then find a respectful way to say the same thing.

Ethics and confidentiality

Translators and interpreters often handle private information, such as medical records or court papers. Therefore, they must keep it confidential and stay neutral. In addition, they should turn down work they are not qualified to do.

The Hidden Work Behind a Good Translation

A good translation often goes unnoticed. In fact, that is the goal: readers should feel the writer had them in mind. Behind that feeling sits careful work. First, the translator studies the source and researches terms. Next, they consider the audience and choose the right tone. Finally, they check the result line by line.

At Ugaafrik Editors, a second linguist then edits and proofreads every translation. We follow this process for a one-page certificate as well as a large research report. Our proofreading and editing step exists because even experts benefit from a second pair of eyes.

Interpreters work under even more pressure. They render speech in real time while handling accents, jargon, emotion and fatigue. That is why conference interpreters usually work in pairs and take turns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Work With Language Professionals All Year

International Translation Day comes once a year, but the need for accurate translation never stops. Do you need documents translated, meetings interpreted or content adapted for Uganda and Africa? If so, explore our translation services and the African languages we translate. Then request a quote or contact us.