DGT Radio — Radio Lingvistika

For this special episode, 4 experts from the EMT (European Master’s in translation) and from LIND (language industry expert group) discuss what they do in their networks and how they wish to better work together, within what they see as a true “ecosystem”. Before their lively and enlightening exchange, we talk with 2 colleagues from DG Translation who tell us more about the EMT and LIND and how they brought them together into a brainstorming workshop.

With Britta Aagaard and Oleksandr Bondarenko (LIND); Alexandra Krause and Emilia Perez (EMT); Anna Kokkinidou and Inkaliisa Vihonen (DGT)
Music: "Days Past" by In Closing

Nike Pokorn, from the University of Ljubljana, takes us on a fascinating journey through the history of literary translation in Slovenia.

 Starting with a brief recap of the history of Slovenia and of the Slovenian language, she explains the crucial role translation has played in the development of the language and of the national identity, and how translators are still shaping modern-day Slovenian. [40 mn]

With an extract from the poem “Srce v alkoholu” (Srečko Kosovel), read by Miha Žličar 
Music: "Lipa zelenela je" (Miroslav Vilhar, Davorin Jenko), performed by Elise Artoisenet, and "Days past" (In Closing)  
 

What is it like to be a Quality Officer in DG Translation? What do Quality Officers do? How do they work? How do they collaborate with each other? And how do they cooperate with others, in DGT and outside? What is their impact on DGT translators' everyday work?
Mateja Arnejsek, Ilona Klemm, Renate Mueller and Karolina Stefaniak, Quality Officers in DGT, share their experience with us.

1 million signatures, 7 countries, 7 organisers: that’s what it takes for EU citizens to request new legislation from the European Commission, through the European Citizens’ initiative (ECI).
Barbara Walentynowicz, member of the ECI team in the Commission's Secretariat-General, tells us about this paneuropean multilingual instrument of participatory democracy. She explains how essential translation is in the process, and how her team collaborates with DG Translation every step of the way. 
[With an extract from the Euractiv YouTube channel – Declaration by Alain Lamassoure and Olivier Chastel]

Exposition sur l’histoire de la traduction du Ve siècle à nos jours, rencontre multilingue à la frontière hispano-portugaise, soirée artistico-culinaire sur les «mots qui voyagent» : découvrez quelques-unes des activités organisées par les antennistes du Département espagnol de la DGT à l’occasion de la Journée européenne des langues, le 26 septembre, et de la Présidence espagnole du Conseil de l’UE [en français et en anglais].

Mariano Martín Rodriguez, traducteur au département espagnol de la DGT, nous emmène en voyage dans l’Espagne médiévale, à l’époque où la langue castillane prend son essor tout en s’imprégnant des cultures arabe et hébraïque qui font alors partie intégrante de la péninsule ibérique. Une plongée passionnante dans l’histoire linguistique et culturelle de l’Espagne. 

With Ingemar Strandvik, Quality Manager and ISO expert in DGT, discover the surprising world of ISO translation standards: no less than 38 national bodies and 19 organisations meeting within ISO to discuss and define the processes of translating, revising and post-editing texts. Learn about “ISO 17100”, the “gold standard” in translation, as well as other ISO standards dealing with languages, and their relevance for our daily work. 

Que veut dire «EMAS»? Que trouve-t-on sur la page «DGT Goes green»? Où vont les vêtements et appareils électriques usagés collectés dans nos bâtiments? 
Agavni Bagdikian, correspondante EMAS à la DGT, répond à nos questions, et nous explique comment la DGT a relancé une plateforme de co-voiturage et a été primée 2 fois pour l'organisation d'«évènements durables». 
Enfin, nous suivons Agavni et quelques collègues dans les rues d'Evere, pour une opération qui lui tient à cœur: le ramassage de déchets dans l'espace public. [20 mn] 

Meet Fani, Niina and Valeria, who share their experience of DGT's Job Shadowing scheme. 
Fani, from Planning, discovered the world of DGT traineeships. Niina paired with another assistant to explore new ways of working. Valeria opened her director's office to a translator, for lively and enlightening discussions on each other's work. 
While they are all already planning their next host or guest experience, Boryana, the scheme's coordinator, explains how easy it is to apply, and how enriching it can be. [in English and French] 

Expérience inédite de démocratie participative 100 % multilingue à l'échelle de l'UE, la Conférence sur l'avenir de l'Europe a permis à des centaines de milliers d'Européens de dialoguer et de débattre pendant une année, au-delà des barrières linguistiques, grâce à la traduction et à l'interprétation. 

Gaëtane Ricard-Nihoul, de la Direction générale Communication à la Commission européenne, relate cette aventure passionnante, qui se poursuit aujourd'hui avec la tenue régulière de panels citoyens européens, et rappelle combien le multilinguisme est au coeur de ce processus. 

We hear and translate about the "blue bioeconomy", but what is it exactly? What does the European Commission mean by "Putting the Blue into the Green"? And why is it striving to "unlock the potential" of algae: are we heading for a "seaweed revolution"? Maris Sturgis and Lorenzo Paliotta, from the Commission's DG Mare, answer our questions.

Shanna, Tomai and Robert tell us about DGT's Irish language department, how it started with a handful of translators, and then grew at record pace until the end of the Irish language derogation last year. They also tell us about the Irish language, its main features and how it slowly asserted itself as an official EU language, and give us a glimpse at the vibrant Irish language community living in Brussels. 

Jeroen Aspeslagh, head of DGT's Editing unit, talks about his team, how they work and who with, to carry out their numerous activities and projects: not only improving the quality of originals, but also training colleagues in the Commission, campaigning for clear writing, and even organising a biennial EU-wide conference on plain language. 

Qu'est-ce que le "NEB" (New European Bauhaus – Nouveau Bauhaus européen), cette initiative phare de la Commission européenne qui cherche à traduire, dans nos espaces et modes de vie, les objectifs de transition écologique du Pacte vert pour l'Europe? 

Depuis le Centre de visites de la Commission, rénové selon les critères du Nouveau Bauhaus, Célia Dejond, du Service du porte-parole, nous explique les différentes facettes de l'initiative — de nombreux projets, mais aussi des prix, un festival, un laboratoire (NEB Lab) et une boussole (NEB Compass), et souligne l'importance de la traduction et du multilinguisme dans ce processus. 

Meet Chiara, Leonardo, Olga, Maurits and Sara, 5 enthusiastic and dynamic young trainees based in Brussels and in Luxembourg, who share with us their experience in DGT, the European Commission's Directorate General for Translation: their work in their language units, their busy agenda of professional and fun events, their life in Brussels, Luxembourg, and in the office, and how they deal with machine translation.

Comment travaille l'Office des publications (OP), qui donne accès à la législation de l'UE et à toutes les données émanant des institutions européennes? Comment s'effectue le contrôle qualité des textes traduits par la DGT? Qui gère et met à jour le Code de rédaction interinstitutionnel, la «bible» des traducteurs et traductrices de l'UE? Benoît Vermeersch, responsable de l'unité «Contrôle qualité» à l'Office des publications, répond à nos questions. 

Meet the team behind "Your Europe", the 2nd most visited EU website: up to 58 million visitors a year, finding practical answers to concrete questions on citizens' rights in the EU, from taking one's dog abroad to VAT rates in other countries — all in 23 languages.

Patrick McCarthy and Adriaan Vermijs, from the European Commission's DG GROW (Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs), explain how they work and collaborate with DGT translators to reach out to EU citizens and businesses in their languages. 

Turning waste into a resource and designing recyclable products: Luis Planas, from DG ENV (the European Commission's Directorate General in charge of the environment), explains how the circular economy aims for zero waste to address the triple planetary crisis (climate change – pollution – biodioversity loss). He tells us how the EU is striving to reach this aim with its Circular Economy Action Plan, sent for translation to DGT. 

Avec passion et enthousiasme, Fabián Diego Luis nous raconte, sans fard et à cœur ouvert, plus de 30 ans au service de l'Union européenne. Guidé par le souci de l'humain et la défense du multilinguisme, il a fait son chemin dans les ressources humaines, organisant plus de 100 concours et recrutant des centaines de collègues, à l'Office des publications, à la Cour de justice de l'UE et au Comité économique et social. Aux commandes de l'unité R.4 à la DGT, il a supervisé le soutien apporté aux traducteurs, toujours ébloui par ce «miracle de tous les jours» que constitue pour lui la traduction. À l'heure de prendre sa retraite, il nous parle aussi de sa passion intime, la littérature, de ses meilleurs souvenirs et de ses regrets, et nous fait part de ses souhaits pour l'avenir de la DGT. 

How does the Spokesperson's service (SPP) work and collaborate with DGT, its key partner for multilingual communication? Maja Maricic, member of the SPP, tells us about the teams and tasks of the Spokesperson's service, and answers translators' questions about press releases, speeches and other content sent for translation to DGT.