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Introduction: Institutional translation and training

Publication at Faculty of Arts |
2022

Abstract

In its 15 chapters, this edited volume explores translation-related training in institutional settings on a global scale. It is divided into three parts which cover the following: (1) Competences expected and/or required on the part of institutional translators and surveyed by several survey exercises, (2) Practices of translator training at university level, and (3) actual Practices of translator training, i.e. continuing professional development (CPD) in institutions in different regions. As such, it constitutes a contribution to Institutional Translation Studies, a rapidly evolving sub-field of Translation Studies (TS).

Translator training is of crucial importance in all areas of translation practice. In institutional translation, though, translator training seems to be of paramount importance since this field is closely linked to a very high level of professionalism and translation is produced under very strict requirements. The recent ISO 20771:2020 standard (Legal translation - Requirements) (2020) bears witness to the topicality of the matter and the importance of one strand of translator training, namely the maintenance and updating of competences through CPD. Although this standard does not cover all the text types rendered by institutional translators, it does cover legal translation, which represents a substantial proportion of all texts translated in and for many institutions. Moreover, translator training, i.e. the need to maintain and update competences has become even more critical in the current technology-rich environment.