The UN And The Importance of International Development Translation

UN’s “quirkiest“ language contest finally returned to Vienna after a three year hiatus. Known by many language enthusiasts, this competition was first introduced in 2005 to commemorate International Translation Day, a day to celebrate St. Jerome, the patron saint of translators who translated the Bible into Latin from Greek manuscripts. In this year’s contest, participants from around the globe were given frustrating household tasks, an AI-related topic, and a traditional Spanish dish to translate. The goal was to ensure nothing got lost in translation. The winners were selected by expert judges based on accuracy in conveying the meaning, style, and nuance of the source text. Let’s learn more about the U.N. and their use of international development translation services.

How Does The UN Use International Development Translation?

The UN has six official languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish) for which it requires international development translation services. The work of a translator is highly detail-oriented. Translated documents have to be clear, coherent, and faithful to the original text. U.N. documents that require translation services cover a variety of issues including technology, politics, science, and social, economic, and legal policy. These translated documents play many important roles. Not only are they used internally in important conferences and meetings; they are often shared to the general public and cited in media, quoted in statements, and incorporated into legislation.

How Does The UN Use Interpreting Services?

Interpreters at the UN headquarters provide interpreting services at important intergovernmental meetings to make sure subjects such as peace and security, sustainable development, human rights, and the environment are conveyed accurately into and from the six official languages. To make communication during conferences easier, the UN mainly uses simultaneous interpreting. This interpreting mode allows interpreters to interpret a speaker’s message from one language into another as the speaker talks. Good interpreters must adopt the delivery and tone of the speaker, as misunderstandings can cause major international incidents. The UN also uses consecutive interpreting services for smaller meetings, In contrast to simultaneous interpretation, consecutive interpreters wait for the speaker to finish talking before interpreting.

Finding A International Development Translation Partner

Translation and interpreting services are crucial to maintaining relationships between UN member states. As a result, experienced language service providers are needed for its conferences and meetings. If you are looking for an exceptional provider of interpreting and translation services for international development matters, Language Connections has been providing high-quality services for over 30 years. We have worked extensively with NGOs and international organizations for decades and understand the complexities of your industry. Given the sensitivities of international relations, we only hire skilled linguists who are experts in the field for which they translate. When combined with our seasoned project management team, your next international program or event is sure to be a success.