The European Commission has launched its 13th annual Juvenes Translatores young translators competition, open to secondary schools across the EU.
Registration will be open to schools until 20 October 2019, after which the Commission will randomly select 751 schools to take part in the next stage of the young translators competition. Entrants should have been born in 2002 and must be able to translate between any two of the 24 official languages of the EU, offering 552 potential language combinations
The final stage of the young translators competition will see nominated students translate a text on the role of young people in shaping the future of Europe. Entrants will participate simultaneously in the contest on 21 November 2019; this year, for the first time, the competition will be conducted online. One winner will be selected from each Member State by representatives of the Commission’s translation department, with winners to be announced in early 2020 at a ceremony in Brussels.
Günther H. Oettinger, European Commissioner in charge of budget, human resources and translation, said: “In Europe, we are happy to speak and understand each other in a few dozen different languages. It is great to see that young people appreciate the benefits of mastering foreign languages and are hungry to learn more. I encourage them to take part in this year’s Juvenes Translatores competition and showcase their impressive language skills.”
‘Juvenes Translatores’ is Latin for ‘young translators’. The competition, overseen by the Commission’s Directorate-General for Translation, has taken place every year since its inception in 2007; with the dual aims of promoting languages education in schools and offering young people the chance to experience the role of a translator. Students visiting Brussels for the Juvenes Translatores awards ceremony will be able to meet with professional translators working for the Commission and discuss translation as a potential career option.
