Some notes on the Future of Translation Studies

Translation Studies in Basque have had manyups and downs during recentyears. In the last ten years the Martutene Translators School and HAEE-IVAP (Administrative translation) have come into existence. Both are now in a period of great change. The first school, due to economic problems, has heen considerahly reduced in size and now is limited to teaching translating ant writing. The second school no longer accepts news pupils in the hope that the University will take over these studies.

The halance of these studies es positive: ahove all, they have served as a meeting place for translators, and therir profession generally heing a lonely one has started to hecome collective. 7-his magazine, Senez, an the Translators Association EIZIE are fruit of the Martutene School.

Now great c hanges in these studies are being considered, an with the ultimate aim heing that of adequate design, we shall try to analyze the needs of the studies.

In the first place, we must ask how many translators are needed; that is to say, we must study the market. Our market is divided into two groups: first, there are the public institutions (Government, Deputation, Town Hall, EITB). From a quantitative point of view, they are hy far our most important clients—and the only c lient that has provided permanent jobs for translators. It c an therefore he said that wherever there are public institutions, there is translation. Recently, the quantity of work to be translated for ETB mainly has reduced considerahly. Changes can also forseen be here with creation of the Official Tranlation Service.

There is public initiative aimed at promoting tranlation (various projectos to translate literary and philosophical texts) but this initiative quantitively speaking is merely anecdotical.

In private institutions (Banks, Saving Banks, editorials, etc) the administration, indirectly also weighs heavely, (demans made on bilinguism, financing, etc) and it is the administration which will ultimately define the politics of translation in these entities.

As far as the need oJ the translator are concerned—in the first place, those who are working at the present time are in fact most in need of studies, it is necessary to r emember the importance of r esearch particularly when one considers the various diffferent types of Basque.

While, as has already been mencioned, the hattle for linguistic unification has heen won, the battle for style is yet to be fought. This battle will take place mainly in the field of translation (directly or indirectly, as the translation many original texts is basically taken for granted as being necessary).

If these studies are carried out in the University—which is not absolutely necessaly, greatflexibility would be needed in order to adequately catel- for the present needs of translation into Basque. The University, however, is where this could best be achieved.