91ֿ’s Translation Studies program will be celebrating its 35th anniversary on April 12-13 and the Department of Modern and Classical Language Studies with a full schedule of festivities and programming for its students, faculty, and alumni.
“We have the most comprehensive translation studies program in the nation,” said Loubna Bilali, an associate professor of translation technologies at 91ֿ. “In particular, the M.A. in translation, which was established in 1988, is considered one of the leading university-based translation programs in the U.S.”
The festivities will begin Friday, April 12, with a reception at the Kent Student Center, a keynote speech by professor Gregory Shreve, founder and first director of the Institute for Applied Linguistics, and a panel to remember Carol Maier, professor of Spanish translation and a pioneer in the practice, pedagogy and theory of literary translation..
Saturday's events include a brunch and engaging panels featuring alumni from a variety of language concentrations and innovative career paths. Larry Fedorko, ’08, M.A. ’10, vice president of language solutions at Questel Morningside, and Christopher Mellinger, M.A. ’09, Ph.D. ’14, graduate director and associate professor of Spanish interpreting and translation at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, will moderate the panels.
If you are unable to attend the event but would like to watch the panels, they will be streaming them on Zoom each day:
Friday, April 12 | 5-7p.m. Join Friday Zoom Meeting -
Saturday, April 13 | 11 a.m-2 p.m. Join Saturday Zoom Meeting -
For the Translation Studies program hosting events like these are crucial for building community, encouraging alumni engagement, and acknowledging both faculty and student body efforts toward the successes of the program.
“Our alumni are like a treasure trove of wisdom and experience, ready to offer guidance and support to current students as they navigate their own journeys,” Bilali said. “Building and nurturing these connections not only fosters a sense of belonging and camaraderie within our community but also opens doors to valuable networking opportunities and collaborations.”
91ֿ Kent's Translation Programs
In an ever-growing diversifying world, the frequency of melting pot-like culture and language increases with trends of globalization and immigration. With this trend comes the need for translations studies and programs like Kent’s that emphasize the importance of precise communication when intersecting with ideas of diversity, equity, and inclusion. A background in the translation field and translation-related studies is also increasingly in demand within job markets and is projected to grow.
“The Translation Studies program at 91ֿ provides a well-rounded and cutting-edge curriculum that is market-oriented,” Bilali said. “It helps students become industry-ready, able to proactively navigate the labor market, and to keep abreast of current and projected market expectations.”
The field of translation provides both vast and various opportunities in career paths and specializations. These topics, beyond traditional translation, include but are not limited to studies in the localization of websites, software, and machine translation engine building, training, fine-tuning, and interpretation. 91ֿ’s Translation Studies program allows students to explore these subjects while preparing them for a diverse set of experiences.
“Translation studies hold a significant place in the global landscape as it plays a crucial role in facilitating communication and understanding across languages and cultures,” Bilali said. “What we do in the language industry matters because the world runs on clear and accurate communication. Commercially, we help provide multilingual content to engage global customers for profit. Humanly, we help to give access to information and a voice to communities. Intellectually, we enable the exchange and transfer of talents, knowledge, and experiences.”
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