Translation in the French Basque Country
Translation: Kristin Addis
Abstract
This article presents the main points discussed in a meeting held in San Sebastian on April 27, 2007, on the initiative of the Association of Translators, Correctors and Interpreters of the Basque Language (Euskal Itzultzaile, Zuzentzaile eta Interpreteen Elkartea, EIZIE). Four translators from the French Basque Country (Basque provinces dependent on the French administration) and one representative from EIZIE took part in the discussion, which had a dual purpose: first, to determine the current situation of translation and translators in the French Basque territory (fields in which the profession is practiced, the languages involved, the training and status of professional translators, professional associations, offers of work from the Spanish Basque Country, etc.), and second, once the situation was diagnosed, to determine the needs that exist, both in the various professional fields of translation and in training for translators.
In this meeting, a number of conclusions were drawn, including the need to strengthen knowledge of and relationships with professionals in this area, and to encourage translation from Basque into French and vice versa on both sides of the Bidasoa. For this purpose, it is essential to establish relations with the various organizations and institutions in the French Basque Country (the Office Publique de la Langue Basque, the Basque Text and Language Study Center IKER, the universities, etc.) as well as to make EIZIE known to anyone associated in any way with the world of translation in this region.
