Past, Present, and Future A Brief History of Translations

Translation has made a great contribution to the development of global culture. The history of translation is said to be a millennia-old service. With the assistance of translators, a person’s culture’s practices, traditions, ideas, and beliefs were transferred to other cultures. The translation enables the accessibility of different cultures to a broader audience worldwide. Translation services have had a significant impact on the world, as they enable people to comprehend the meaning of multiple languages.

The early history of Translation

It is said that the origin of translation began during the Mesopotamian era, with the translation of Gilgamesh (a Sumerian poem) into the Asian language. Additionally, Buddhist monks translated Indian texts into Chinese in the ancient period. Translation services were prevalent in ancient societies throughout the Middle East, and the proliferation of languages between ancient kingdoms created a need for people to communicate across language barriers. Around 2500 BC, clay tablets were used to decipher symbols from the ancient Semitic languages Sumerian and Eblaite. Jean-François Champollion, a French scholar, was one of the most renowned translators who worked on translating Egyptian hieroglyphics from the Rosetta Stone. Champollion succeeded in solving a decree inscribed on the stone in three different scripts: Egyptian hieroglyphics, Demotic script, and Ancient Greek.

Translation in society today

Today, translators have various tools, including the internet and laptop computers, to aid in the translation process despite the translation origin. Translation services have also grown in importance in society as the economy, education, knowledge sharing, and trade become more interconnected. Due to the high demand for translation services, numerous translation agencies are competing for a market share. The translation industry is comprised of businesses from all over the world with an estimated worth of more than $33.5 billion and is structured around several significant players. USTC is one of the agencies that provide language services to clients worldwide.

Translation moving into the future

While the history of translation spans numerous centuries, it reveals a great deal about the development of previous civilizations. In addition, translation has historically been a powerful tool for bridging cultural divides. As we look forward, we can anticipate translation increasingly entering the technological era with Machine Translation and Neural Networks such as those used by Google Translator and in-ear interpreters such as the Pilot. While there is an underlying fear that machines will eventually supplant human translators, that day is still many years away. As the world continues to globalize, the global market for translation services will continue to grow. As a result, the translation industry will continue to play a critical role in keeping society connected rather than fading into obscurity.

This shows how far translation has progressed over time, and we can appreciate the arduous translation work performed by early translators. Additionally, we have access to a more extensive selection of services that provide more accurate translations than originals.