SALUTE the ‘Unsung Heroes of the Linguistic Profession’

Translation is almost as old as writing and speech, and came a long way to be
recognized as a profession. This profession slowly and steadily achieved its long-sought
recognition when multilingual nations came to realize the significant role the
professional translators could occupy to facilitate communication between different
linguistic communities, and how it will forge greater unity among such communities
and preserve diversity. However, in a very few countries, professional translation is
grossly underestimated even today. Unfortunately, Sri Lanka, which is ethnically,
linguistically and culturally diverse, is one of them and most probably ahead of them.

In fact, professional translation is more or less reduced to a ‘support service’ in the public
sector of Sri Lanka. Authorities have constantly failed to realize that translation is a
profession, viz. one requiring advanced knowledge or advanced training in some branch of
learning or science. In other words, doctors, engineers, architects, accountants, etc. are all
professionals, and translators are no exception. It is worth mentioning here that UN,
recognizing the role of professional translation in connecting nations and fostering
peace, understanding and development, officially declared 30 September International
Translation Day. Andrei Dapkiunas (Belarus), who presented the draft for the UN
Resolution, claimed that this historic resolution was not for simply demonstrating
respect for a profession; ‘it was first and foremost about people, the invisible workers
and unsung heroes of the linguistic profession’. Thus, UN recognized professional
translation. The time has come for our authorities to redefine the professional
translation in Sri Lankan context; the sooner the better.

Professional translation in the European Union, for instance, shows us what makes
translation a profession. The EU has 28 member states and 24 official languages, of
which English, French and German are ‘procedural’ languages – viz. the languages for
conducting internal business. Legislations and policy documents of significant public
importance are translated and made available to all member states in all 24 official
languages, yet no specific authority is given to the original text. That is to say, the
translated text has absolute authority in a particular state even before its court of law.
That is professionalism in the real sense of the word. Can our authorities publish a
simple Gazette notification without giving specific authority to the original text, i.e.,
without stating ‘in the event of any inconsistency between the Sinhala, Tamil and
English texts of this notification, the Sinhala text shall prevail’? The EU, a single body of
28 states does it in 24 languages.

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Sinhala and Tamil languages are both official and national languages of the country,
and English the link language. The Constitution of Sri Lanka guarantees the Right to
Language. Sri Lanka has an Official Languages Policy (OLP), and also key
establishments such as the Ministry of National Coexistence, Dialogue and Official
Languages, the Official Languages Commission and the Department of Official
Languages with the mandate to ensure the effective implementation of the OLP.
Nevertheless, Sri Lanka came up with a plethora of excuses for the lapses in
implementing the OLP, in its reply to the issues raised by the UN - Committee of
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. As per Sri Lanka’s reply, the key issue is the
dearth of translators in the country, specially for Sinhala/Tamil and vice versa, which
hinders effort of the government institutions to make available their documents, details,
forms, etc. in all three languages.

Herein lies another issue which largely goes unnoticed. That is, with the dearth of
translators, persons outside the profession are assigned this skilled task. Consequently,
a considerable number of translated texts, specially those from one official language to
another are inconsistent with the original, or below standard. Anyone conducting a
survey on the accuracy and consistency of the translations done by those outside the
profession would recommend only the professionals into this field. We are yet to ensure
the Right to ‘right’ Information.

The question of professionalism has become a pressing issue in the field of translation
in Sri Lanka. Who is qualified to be a translator? Who bears ultimate responsibility if
translations are not upto standard or inconsistent? Is that the individual translators or
the authorities? Nothing to surprise, it is definitely the latter as they have never treated
translators as professionals. Out of ignorance, they have neglected this profession over
the years.

Given that translation is a profession and therefore requires an advanced knowledge or

advanced training in the respective branch of learning or science, translators in the
public service are deprived of both. It is noteworthy that no candidate enters the
profession with sound academic knowledge in translation. Here, translation
competence should not be confused with language competence. It is true that language
competence makes a significant contribution to translation, but translation competence
always lies above the language competence. To put it simple, the art of translation is
hardly mastered by learning languages separately. Until recently, translation was not
taught as a separate discipline in the state universities of Sri Lanka. Hopefully, with the
initiation of the special degree programmes in Translation Studies, the field of
translation in Sri Lanka can reach new heights in the years to come.

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Interestingly, advanced nations call a profession to what call a ‘support service’, and
they provide translators with training opportunities, both prolonged and routine
training to preserve professionalism. For an instance, in continental Europe, translators
are usually trained for four or five years in a university programme specifically
designed for that purpose. In contrast, practical training for translators in Sri Lanka is at
a lamentably low level. The authorities are so utterly ignorant that they have restricted
the practical training almost to a fortnight. No training so far for the most recent batch
of the Government Translators Service! Authorities believe in miracles and for them
miracles still happen fortnight. So, they want translators to run before they can barely
walk, and become plug-and-play employees. Those with no training at all are attached
to several key ministries and departments where they serve without much technical
assistance or adequate literary guidance. This itself puts professional translation in
peril.

One may argue that translators are selected through a highly standard competitive
examination. Of course, examinations would select potential translators, but definitely,
they will not make translators professional. Translation is a profession based on
knowledge and experience. In the early years of the profession, translators face much
difficulty, and should be guided by well-experienced and highly qualified translators.
For instance, a surgery student will never be asked to perform an open-heart surgery
for a first operation. Likewise, any professional learns progressively, gains experience in
stages, but in this country, translators are thought to be otherwise.

We need to keep in mind that translation and production do not go hand in hand.
Performance of a translator cannot be measured based on the number of pages he/she
translates. Quality over quantity is more important than the other way round. Working
under strict deadlines may reduce the quality of a translation. Translation is not
mechanical; it can be viewed as a creative science. To master it scientifically, one needs
to know all those theories and methods applied, or the linguistic sensitivity can be
naturally developed, which for me is bliss. After theoretical part is hardly mastered or
linguistic sensitivity is naturally developed, it slowly turns science into art. Translation
has its fascination, but is always a hard one to master. If translation is thought to be
mechanical, it loses both science and art. For instance, if someone wants you to translate
over 10 pages a day and 200 pages a month to claim a small amount for the extra work
done, he is a bloodsucker who gives peanuts in exchange of your knowledge and skills.
If a translator ever becomes so machine-like, he should be an extraterrestrial being with
a super powerful chip in his brain.

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Undoubtedly, pay and promotions are the best motivators. However, translators in the
public service are entitled to a relatively lower salary scale and they are deprived of
promotions. However, a decision was made by the Cabinet of Ministers to restructure
the translators’ service to make it more attractive. So far, the administrative authorities
have made it so attractive that professional translators would become endangered
human species in this country before long. They are definitely playing a trick here. No
pay-hike for the translators at all, no reasonable method of promotion! Then, how do
they attract more people to this profession? For them it is not that difficult as they bring
A/L qualified people (those without a basic degree) into this profession and count the
heads to say that the shortage of translators is now successfully solved. Someone would
definitely ask whether the A/L qualified people could practice as translators and
authorities would reply that they are not directly recruited as translators but Assistant
Translators and with their experience they become fully-fledged translators. Well ! we
can try the same with other professionals like doctors, engineers and even with
administrative officials.

Three state universities namely University of Kelaniya, University of Sabaragamuwa

and University of Jaffna conduct special degree programmes in Translation Studies and
a considerable number of graduates with the special degree pass out each year. Those
graduates can be directly recruited to the translators’ service after a few months of
practical training. Those who are academically sound can practice this profession than
those with only A/L qualification. When the graduates are provided with job
opportunities in the translation service, more and more students will follow the degree.
On the other hand, universities will design the courses to be job oriented. It is a matter
of bringing theory into practice. Ultimately we get the best people for the profession.
Universities authorities can be requested to initiate translation courses for the language
pair - Sinhala and Tamil, as the country faces an acute shortage of translators in this
category.

Lack of facilities at the working stations is another matter which requires immediate
attention. Translators, though they are given the so-called title ‘Staff Officer’, are
deprived of their privileges. Most of them do not have a favourable environment to
work with. The only supplementary material for some translators is a bilingual
dictionary, and they are supposed to translate technical documents under strict
deadlines without any technical assistance. After repeated requests they get a computer
without internet only to type the translated text. Internet is a powerful tool for
translation. Translation software, CAT tools, online dictionaries, glossaries and other
supplementary materials are useful to make translation efficient. My response for the

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senior officials who do not at least provide translators with a computer with internet
connection is that internet has become a common man like television in your youth.
Welcome to the new century!

Last but not least, there is an urgent necessity for unification of the Translators’ Service.
There should be an umbrella institution for translators. Recruitment, attachment,
transfers and training of translators island wide should be handled by a single body.
Parliament, Department of Legal Draftsman and a few other establishments should be
exceptions. This umbrella institution should be responsible for delivering an
Authoritative Translation Service. This is essential for maintaining consistency and
accuracy in the use of official languages, and it will also improve the prospects of the
translators themselves. The Department of Official Languages, the Official Translator to
the Government should be assigned this onerous responsibility.

Actions speak louder than words! We urge all translators to fight for their profession
and help translation gain its glory. We urge the authorities to be genuine, and make
translation an attractive and dignified profession. And we request all to raise their voice
on behalf of translators. If our endeavour to save professional translators falls short, this
country is slowly heading towards another war. Our hopes could not be higher then. A
word to the wise!

H.A.N.D. Hettiarachchi
Superintendent of Translations (Acting)
Department of Official Languages

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