In collaboration with the Departments of Translation and Interpreting Studies and English Language and Literature, our school this time hosted Ms. Petek Demir, renowned for her translations of Dan Brown’s books.
Having brought 35 books into our language, Demir, who has long been active in the field of literary translation, began her talk by emphasizing that translation is “a matter of patience.” Drawing on her experiences, she shared with our students that translation, as a form of intercultural communication, entails significant responsibilities on the part of the translator. In this regard, she explained with reasoning that examining cultural elements in both the source and target languages is among the translator’s fundamental tasks. She further noted that, despite often being criticized, popular culture can in fact serve as an important point of reference for translators.
Particularly in literary translation, she stressed the importance of being able to read between the lines, adding that the path to acquiring this skill necessarily involves reading, watching, and listening. More broadly, Demir reflected on the various challenges of being a literary translator in Turkey. Nevertheless, she concluded her talk by underlining that being recognized by the identity of “translator” is a profession that brings peace of mind and confers honor. Afterwards, she sincerely answered the questions posed by our students, continuing to enlighten them on their journey.
The talk concluded with our Head of the Department of Translation and Interpreting Studies, Prof. Dr. Gürkan Doğan, expressing his satisfaction with this valuable event and presenting a plaque to Ms. Petek Demir.
