Dear translators and translation academics,

The urge to explain what we do - or rather, what we "don't just do" - is completely understandable.

But saying "not just translation" while describing the very essence of translation (like conveying meaning, adapting to the audience and purpose, etc.) ends up being counterproductive. It sounds like we're undermining our own craft. It suggests that translation itself is somehow insufficient or lacks complexity, when in reality, these are precisely the skills that define good translation.

How about saying "translators are not just swapping words"? It gets the point across without devaluing translation. And it’s not that radical, is it?

Yours,
Stavroula