The first international event of the Project carried out by the Translation Studies Department of Istanbul University was held successfully as a project within the framework of Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture
International Colloquium titled “Translation in all Its Aspects with Focus on International Dialogue” was held with the collaboration of Translation Association and the Translation Studies Department of the Faculty of Letters of Istanbul University and the organizational participation of International Federation of Translators (FIT) in the outstanding venues of Istanbul University between 21st and 23rd of October, 2009. The meeting, with a large scale representation and international repercussions, was the first step of the Project funded within the framework of Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture. The support of the French Consulate in Istanbul as well as that of the member companies of Association of Translation Companies (Dilta, Dragoman, Es Bilgisayar, UniTer, Universal) was significant in the success of the meeting.
FIT, which supported the meeting through the announcement of the Colloquium and the promotion of an international participation, held its annual Council Meeting of 2009 in Istanbul prior to the Colloquium. During the Colloquium, which was an outcome of an effective organization thanks to the keen interest of the esteemed Dean of Istanbul University Faculty of Letters, Prof. Korkut Tuna and the collaboration of various organizations and multi-dimensional supports, around 100 papers from 27 countries were presented. The Proceedings were presented to the participants at the end of the Colloquium. One important activity of the Colloquium was the exhibition titled “Multicultural Life in Anatolia and in the Ottoman Empire, the Role of Dragomans and Translators” organized by Assoc. Prof. Sakine Eruz of the German Section of Translation Studies Department of Istanbul University.
The meeting also hosted two celebrations: the 15th anniversary of the translator training in Istanbul University and the 10th year of the foundation of Translation Association. Prof. Dr. Hasan Anamur, the President of Translation Association, and Prof. Dr. Emel Ergun, the Head of the Translation Studies Department, drew attention to these two anniversaries. Translator training and the professional organization in the world of translation, in parallel to the meaning of these anniversaries, were among the topics of the meeting with its international academic participation. During the Colloquium, which was a significant platform for the gathering and dialogue of academicians and the actors of the world of translation, the phenomenon of translation was discussed in the light of both the theoretical approaches and the current and practical issues. The importance and difficulties of translation, translator training, and translation organizations and visibility were the common grounds for most of the papers.
In the Colloquium, there were 13 papers directly related to translator training. In most of the papers, the presenters referred to translator training. Additionally, 15 years of translator training at Istanbul University was discussed in 6 poster presentations. A session was held in relation with the poster presentations. This session, which was a special event of the meeting, was chaired by the former head of Translation Studies Department, Prof. Dr. Turgay Kurultay. The session also attended by “veteran scholar” Prof. Dr. Şara Sayın, who contributed to the foundation of the Department, and Prof. Dr. Nilüfer Tapan, the first head of the Department thereby formed a platform for the inter-generational meeting and dialogue.
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INTERNATIONAL COLLOQUIUM
OF
TRANSLATION
TRANSLATION
IN ALL ITS ASPECTS
WITH FOCUS
ON INTERNATIONAL DIALOGUE
Istanbul (Oct. 21-23, 2009)
Translation Association in Turkey which brings translators, translation bureaus and translation scholars together holds an international colloquium on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of its foundation, under the auspices of Istanbul University, with the theme
"Translation in all its Aspects with Focus on International Dialogue"
Communicational encounters in the international relations of our time, in cases of both contact and conflict, seem to foreground the role played by translation and translators more than ever. Discussions on the activities, constraints and opportunities of translators who play an active role in overcoming problems of communication triggered by regionalisations, communicational barriers and prejudices across societies, with their professional and intellectual positions, and an overall assessment of professional organisations of translators in this context, will bring forth new expansions to our world in its search of peace and justice. Acknowledging the role of education in both training of translators equipped with key skills and solidification of the professional status of translators, translator training is aimed to be one of the leading sub-themes of the Colloquium. In an age where intercultural relations gain new expansions, it will be of special importance to hold this Colloquium in Turkey given her location at the intersection of cultures serving as the cradle of civilisations from past to date. Views and discussions by translators as agents of communication from all sub-fields of the profession, researchers of the fields in question, translator trainers and scholars of cultural and political research will, no doubt, open up new horizons for all interested and involved in translation.