Cabinet Secretariat Holds Training for Journalistic Text Translation
The opening of the 2024 Technical Training for Journalistic Text Translation held online by the Center for Government Translators and Interpreters Development of Cabinet Secretariat, Thursday (08/29). (Photo by: PR of Cabinet Secretariat/AGG/MAA)
Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Administrative Affairs Thanon Aria Dewangga opened the 2024 Technical Training for Journalistic Text Translation on Thursday (08/29).
This training, participated by government translators and interpreters across the country, is held online by the Cabinet Secretariat’s Center for Government Translators and Interpreters Development (Pusbinter) from August 29 to September 5.
According to Thanon, this training is important for enhancing the competence of translators across Indonesia, especially in journalistic text translation.
Thanon stressed that it is imperative that translators understand journalistic principles in translating journalistic texts.
“Translators must produce a translation that is based on facts and impartiality, or that covers both sides,” he said, adding that the sentences used are effective, short, concise, and clear so they are not ambiguous.
“Third, good news writing must follow the 5W plus 1H principle (who, when, what, why, and how) to provide complete and detailed information of an occurring event,” he said.
Thanon also recommended using an inverted pyramid structure that consists of three parts, namely, the lead containing the most important information of the news, the body containing detailed 5W+1H, and the tail containing additional information.
Thanon further underscored the importance of using simple and interesting wording, both in Indonesian and foreign languages, to help readers understand the news content.
“If we look at a newspaper or news section in printed or electronic media, the ones put at the top are those that move people to listen to or read more of the news,” he said.
On that occasion, Thanon also expressed his opinion on artificial intelligence (AI) in translation, stressing that despite the rise of AI, human translators are still needed to ensure accuracy and retain cultural nuances that often cannot be translated by AI.
“Thus, AI translations still require translators’ editing to ensure the translation accuracy and quality. I hope the growth of AI does not come as a threat to translators but rather a reason for you to continue to increase competence in translation and interpreting,” he said to training participants.
Thanon closed his opening remarks by expressing appreciation to Pusbinter that has continued to improve Indonesian government translators and interpreters’ competence and expressing hope that similar events can be held in the future.
“I also thank the keynote speaker of this training, Ms. Fifi Aleyda Yahya, for spending your time to share experience and knowledge with the training participants,” he said while expressing optimism that the participants would gain great knowledge from her, who as a Senior Journalist at PT Media Televisi Indonesia is highly experienced in journalism.
“By saying bismillahirrahmanirrahim, I hereby open the 2024 Technical Training for Journalistic Text Translation. Enjoy your training,” he remarked.
For the record, the training is participated by 20 translators and interpreters from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, Ministry of Communications and Informatics, Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Ministry of Religious Affairs, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Ministry of the Environment and Forestry, Supreme Court, National Resilience Institute, Government of Sampang Regency, Government of Bima Regency, Government of South Bangka Regency, and Government of Padang City. (FID/DNS) (DH/MMB)
