Abstract:

Professionalization of translation has emerged as a recent field of research in the sociological approach in the relevant literature in translation studies. Professionalization can simply be described as a process covering several occupational attributes at the end of which an occupation upgrades its status. Studies investigating the translation profession and the status of translators in different countries are not high in number in translation studies literature. The present study aims at analyzing the current status of the translation profession in Turkey, drawing on the the professionalization process in the sociology of professions which aims to describe certain factors (traits, criteria) for an occupation to be accepted as a profession in this process. Translation is currently not a full-fledged profession in Turkey, like in most other countries around the world. However, the existence of translator education programs in universities, various translator associations and other developments related to legal procedures, particularly recent attempts of the Vocational Qualifications Institution suggest that the profession of translation in Turkey is a promising example on the way to professionalization. Especially recent developments linked to the release of a National Professional Standard for Translators/Interpreters established in 2013 and national qualifications in six different fields of translation (draft versions released in 2019) indicate the establishment of a well-founded translator certification system in Turkey soon.

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