The work of translators is so underrated that it is nonetheless one of the most important and painstaking jobs in the world. This is because knowledge is power and it is knowledge written down and preserved for posterity that past generations have relied on to do incredible things, from building skyscrapers, making technological advances, and even traveling to the moon. What people forget is that deep down there is a team of hard-working translators burning the midnight oil for years, translating this useful knowledge into various indigenous languages ​​so that it can benefit people in most corners of the world.

Consider the Bible, for example. This is the most important literary work in the world because the message it conveys has such a power of resonance among the citizens of planet earth that it has not exceeded sales and is the most translated book of all time. As of 2017, according to Wikipedia, the entire Bible (both Old and New Testaments) has been translated into 670 different languages, while the New Testament is only available in a whopping 1,521 languages.

Why? For the sheer universal value of its message. In fact, researchers have established that people who read and believe the message of the Bible are less prone to depression and suicide and live longer, happier lives than those who don’t believe the message of hope and eternal happiness. . handed down in the Holy Book. Here is the question? Do you think that people around the world would have benefited from the values ​​and ideals espoused in the Bible if it had not been translated from the original Greek and Hebrew into other languages? I bet your answer is a resounding no!

Take a look at some of the language translation services performed;

Tigrinya translation services

Somali translation services

Malagasy translation services

Yoruba translation services

Oromo translation services

Ndebele Translation Services

Wolof translation services and many others.

The work of a translator is hard

However, you wonder why the translator’s job is often unappreciated. The ability to have a deep understanding and appreciation of a language to the point of decoding it coherently and artistically for teaching purposes in indigenous languages ​​is not an easy skill. That is why translators around the world are still few, undervalued and poorly paid.

For the uninitiated, translating a literary work is a complex process that involves initial research and consultation about all the people and places in that literary work. Producing a concise version of the original book in another language is no mean feat. It is often an onerous task involving many experts who have to decode little things; Analyze the grammar, pay attention to the little details, and keep checking to stay on the right track. Martin Luther, the reformer, was a very brilliant professor of theology who was the first to translate the Bible into German and confessed that during the translation process, the search for an expression sometimes took a month. That’s how difficult the translation business can be.

It is my prayer that governments around the world recognize the thankless work of translators and reward them accordingly. It is a good sign that language institutes are becoming key entities in most of the world’s universities. I hope they continue to produce better linguists and translators because more are needed and their work is indispensable in the transmission of important knowledge to build stronger societies.