Before entering professional life, our department, which aims to bring its students together with leading academics and expert translators in the field of translation studies, welcomed Asst. Prof. Dr. Elif Ersözlü as its first guest of the year.
Serving as a faculty member at Hacettepe University, Department of Translation and Interpreting Studies (English), Dr. Ersözlü is also a highly qualified translator who has maintained her success in the field of technical translation for many years.
The conference began with the question, “What is Technical Translation and What Does It Require?” Contrary to common definitions, Dr. Ersözlü pointed out that in certain cases, technical translation can even include elements of literary translation, emphasizing the broad scope of the field. Drawing on her own experiences, she provided detailed explanations of the requirements of this area, serving as a guide for our students, who are aspiring translators.
This enlightening talk continued under the heading “How the Translation Process Develops.” She highlighted that the intended purpose in the source and target texts may sometimes differ, a factor that translators must always consider. She also noted that keeping up with technological innovations in the translation process has visible positive effects.
Finally, Dr. Ersözlü discussed the “Translation Market” in all its aspects, illustrating the difference between what should be and what actually is with amusing anecdotes, creating an enjoyable atmosphere in the hall. She sincerely answered questions from students and stressed the importance of reading for translators by advising, “Read whatever you find!”, emphasizing that a translator cannot produce work without reading.
At the conclusion of the conference, which attracted considerable interest, our esteemed Head of Department, Prof. Dr. Gürkan Doğan, shared his happiness in facilitating such an enlightening and enjoyable event and presented a plaque to our guest, Dr. Ersözlü, expressing our gratitude.
