On Friday (12/18), the Japanese bachelor degree Study Program held a public lecture entitled Professional Translators. The event, which was held in the Seminar Room on the 6th floor of Building B at Universitas Widyatama, invited students not only from the Japanese bachelor degree study program, as it was considered important to share the knowledge gained.
The event featured a guest speaker, Mr. Oku Nobuyuki, M.Pd., an expert translator and the owner of PT. Industrial Support Service Indonesia. He is a renowned translator in Indonesia. Although he is originally from Japan, Mr. Oku chose to live and work in Indonesia, a country he once colonized. The sub-topics covered in the seminar included tips and tricks for becoming a good corporate translator with a formal demeanor. The final topic discussed was paying attention to the qualifications that customers want in a translator.
Within the scope of the translation profession, there are various types of professions, especially in the field of work. Among them are the professions of accompanying translators, which are divided into tourism companions and companions in factories or facilities. Second, there are meeting companions, which include small meetings, training sessions, large meetings (conferences), and simultaneous meetings. Thirdly, there are negotiation interpreters and finally survey interpreters. “Every profession plays an important role, and one key to getting a feel for each profession is to first master your mother tongue,” said Oku, pointing to a slide containing the Indonesian flag.
Mr. Oku hopes that the outcome of the event will produce creative young interpreters who are the future of the nation and can compete in the global arena. With this public lecture, students can also broaden their mindset that a translator is not only needed in the tourism sector, but their role is also vital in various forums and conferences.
