BANGI, August 20, 2019– Translation is a major medium of communication for the development of nations, citizens, and religions not only in Malaysia, but throughout the world, especially in the era of globalization and world without borders. Recognizing this fact, USIM Faculty of Major Languages (FPBU) hosted this event, in collaboration with the Malaysian Translation Association (PPM), the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) and the Malaysian Translation & Book Institute (ITBM) to take the initiative of organizing the International Translation Conference 2019 (PPA-17) themed three-day “Digital translation” from 20 to 22 August 2019 at Hotel Bangi Resort.

This year, the conference brought together 96 participants, including 52 speakers from around the world among scholars and linguists and a range of speakers from Brunei, Indonesia, Australia, Vietnam, Nigeria and Taiwan. It is a bi-annual conference organized since 1984 that will serve as a platform for participants to realize the dissemination and sharing of knowledge and to leverage the contents of their paper presentations in their respective professions.

In addition, the conference explores and illuminates the basic issues and hurdles of existing translation implementations as well as linking them to current situations, opening up new discoveries and alternative approaches from the aspects of theory and applications of translation and interpretation as well as encouraging exchange of ideas and experiences in the field of  translation training.

YB Dato Saifudin Abdullah Minister of Foreign Affairs in his inaugural officiating address stated that organizing an international conference is one of the initiative to position Malaysia as one of the leading countries in the translation industry in the ASEAN region. This aspiration also serves as a bridge to the DBP’s Key Effectiveness Areas, namely the Internationalization of Malay Languages and Letters.

He added that there are various new technologies in the field of translation such as Genius Device, Vasco Mini Translator, Interpretation Ear Piece and others that help us communicate in more than 40 languages. Google translate and many other translation softwares are also increasingly sophisticated with the development and advancement of global technology.

“We hope this conference will raise awareness of the importance of translation in the transfer of knowledge and culture. Indeed, implementation initiatives require ongoing funding from the government and private sectors to support local and international translation activities, especially synergy programs between USIM with local and international publishers, such as the old adage saying ” a pipe shapes flowing water, ,consensus shapes flowing words, ” said Prof Dato Dr Roshada Hashim Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) representing the Vice-Chancellor of USIM.

Among the keynote speakers were Prof. Emeritus Tan Sri Dato ‘Dzulkifli Abdul Razak with the title Translation as Change Agent; Prof. Anthony Pym titled How Neural Machine Translation Might Change the Work of Translators; Prof. Associate Dr Akmal Khuzairy Abd Rahman with the title of Presentation of Conflict between English and Arabic as source of borrowed translation for Malay: Issues and Highlights; and Prof. Dr Majdi Hj Ibrahim with the title How to Translate Advertising Text from English to Arabic.

The event also launched 6 books including publications from USIM & ITBM Publishers, DBP and PTS Publishing House.

 

Prepared by:
Syazlyna Jamil
Pusat Komunikasi Strategik (StraComm)
Aras 1, Canselori Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM)
71800 Nilai, Negeri Sembilan