Cabinet Secretariat Holds Online Journalistic Translation Training

The opening of the first batch of journalistic text translation training, Monday (15/11), which was held virtually. (Photo by: PR of Cabinet Secretariat/Jay)

Cabinet Secretariat through Cabinet Secretariat’s Center for Government Translators and Interpreters Development (Pusbinter) held the first batch of online journalistic text translation training for Indonesian Government Translators and Interpreters – known as Functional Official of Translators/Interpreters (PFPs).

A total of 33 PFPs from the Central and regional government institutions participate in the training that will take place from 15-19 November 2021.

“The training aims to support the task of government translators in terms of journalistic text translation, boost productivity, effectiveness, and efficiency in the field of translation in order to improve the organization’s performance,” Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Administrative Affairs Farid Utomo said in his written remarks delivered by Head of Cabinet Secretariat’s Center for Government Translators and Interpreters Development Sri Wahyu Utami.

Currently, he added, almost all Central and regional government institutions have websites that contain comprehensive news with translated versions in various languages, especially English.

“The use of online media is one of effective strategies in building a pattern of government public communication. The Government uses the website to disseminate the vision and mission of policies and information accurately and quickly since the public needs actual and reliable information and news,” he said.

Moreover, Farid said that PFPs play a very strategic role as a communication bridge in delivering information to the public, especially foreign parties related to domestic policy and other factual issues.

“Translators, as one of the Government’s mouthpieces, have a moral responsibility to provide accurate, acceptable, and clear translations,” he said.

According to him, the training was preceded by a comprehensive needs assessment phase regarding the need for translation in government institutions and benefits of journalistic translation on government websites in order to disseminate various government policies.

“In translating journalistic texts, a translator is required to translate them in a straightforward and interesting manner. Journalistic translation must consider various aspects, such as wordplay, idiomatic expressions, and historical references related to the source text,” he added.

To that end, he continued, the training will be more focused on the practice of translating journalistic texts rather than the theory of journalistic translation.

“With this journalistic translation training, we really hope that PFPs can improve their competence in the field of journalistic translation in order to support the duties and functions of their respective Ministries or Institutions,” he remarked. (TGH/UN) (RIF/MUR)