Translation and Terminology [Only in Latvian]

To mark the European Day of Languages, the European Language Festival, organized by the European Commission Representation in Latvia, took place for the second time at the National Library of Latvia on September 19. This year, the Faculty of Translation Studies at Ventspils University College participated in this ambitious event alongside other participants. The faculty was represented by students from the bachelor's program in Translation and Language Technology, Sindija Plotniece, Paula Keiša, Alise Neilande, Sanija Zundovska, and Ilze Jaunzeme, as well as the program director Aiga Bādere, and Sabīna Brauna, a student of the master's program "Translation and Terminology." Throughout the day, visitors from all over Latvia were able to view more than 30 stands set up by language learning centres, embassies, higher education institutions, and other institutions and organizations. Visitors could complete educational tasks, participate in various language-related quizzes, while the stage program allowed them to listen to presentations on language issues and learn about different cultures through colourful performances. Visitors could also go on a language date to test or refresh their language skills. The students greatly appreciated their participation in the festival, as they spent the day in a wonderful and relaxed atmosphere, chatting with visitors, playing games, learning more about languages and multilingualism, and introducing visitors to translation studies at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences.

On October 16, researchers from the Faculty of Translation Studies (FTS) at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences participated in the conference “ The Journey of Latvian Books: Terminology and Language in the Light of Five Centuries, ” which took place at the National Library of Latvia in Riga. Assoc. prof. Dr. Philol. Jānis Veckrācis delivered a plenary lecture entitled “Geographical Terminology Discourse and the History of Certain Basic Terms in the Latvian Language.” Assoc. prof. Dr. Philol. Silga Sviķe presented a paper entitled “An Insight into the History and Contemporary Use of Certain Botanical Taxonomy Terms” to conference participants. FTS lecturer Mg. translat. Aiga Bādere gave a presentation on her doctoral thesis entitled “Post-editing Machine Translation in the Context of Latvian Scientific Language.” FTS doctoral student Anna Rudzīte presented a paper entitled “The History of the Word ‘Choir’ and Differences in Its Comprehension Today,” while doctoral student Anna Šēfere presented a paper entitled “The Diachronic Development of the Definition of the Term ‘Tourism’.” The conference also featured many other valuable presentations, as well as engaging discussions, networking opportunities, and the exchange of ideas.

On October 9 and 10, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences hosted an international scientific conference entitled “More than Words: (Inter)linguistic Aspects in a Practical Context,” organized by the Faculty of Translation Studies (FTS) at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences in cooperation with the Institute of Linguistics and the Faculty of Humanities at Jan Długosz University ( Uniwersytet Jana Długosza , Poland). Plenary presentations were given by Ramunė Kasperė from Lithuania, Andrejs Veisbergs from the University of Latvia, and Olga Słabońska from Poland. FTS researchers and lecturers gave presentations at the conference: Associate Professor Dr. philol. Egita Proveja, Assoc. Prof. Dr. philol. Jānis Veckrācis, lecturer Mg. paed. Diāna Neimane, research assistant MBA Aiga Veckalne, guest lecturer Mg. translat. & term. Ailenda Bulindža-Leitiete, guest lecturer Mg. translat. Linda Gaile guest lecturer Mg. ed. mgmt. Zane Veidenberga, as well as doctoral students Jūlija Rastorgujeva, Diāna Bērziņa, Anna Rudzīte, Anna Šēfere and bachelor's program students Lorete Medne, Roberta Šarlote Andersone, Natālija Dolgova and Ilze Jaunzeme. The opening speeches of the conference were interpreted by Elēna Šatrovska, a 4th-year student of the bachelor's program. The conference's terminology session was specially dedicated to the 75th anniversary of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences professor, renowned Latvian linguist and terminologist Juris Baldunčiks (1950–2022). During the forum, COLOURS alliance workshops were also held for students, where young people performed practical tasks related to digital translation tools, intercultural communication, and foreign language learning. The workshops were led by European Commission representatives Jānis Līmežs and Anna Liniņa, as well as colleagues from the Polish partner university. The forum concluded with a panel discussion entitled “Humanities: New Trends, Changes, Future,” which was moderated by Faculty Dean Jānis Veckrācis. In conjunction with the COLOURS forum, the conference is a significant contribution to the development of the international dimension of the Faculty of Translation Studies' scientific activities, the development of cooperation between scientists, the exchange of experience, and the involvement of students at all levels of study. The discussions highlighted several directions of further cooperation, both in science and in the education of students. It is planned to prepare and publish in Lithuania a collection of conference papers indexed in the Scopus scientific database in English and German. This will ensure that the conference's high-value research results are available to a wide range of the international academic community in the field of Humanities. The next conference will take place in two years at Jan Dlugosz University.

On September 18, students from Kuldīga Technology and Tourism Technical School visited the Faculty of Translation Studies (FTS) at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences with their teacher Zanda Šlegelmilha to participate in the class "Fallowing the Dictionary" and learn about study opportunities at FTS. This academic year, FTS associate professor Silga Sviķe is once again offering students this creative workshop, which is included in the ''Latvian School Bag'' activities catalogue. The class provides an exciting opportunity to learn about how dictionaries are created, take a look at Professor Juris Baldunčiks' memorial cabinet, which contains interesting materials on the history of lexicography, and, at the end of the class, take a closer look at one of the dictionaries on offer. During the class, you can look at a dictionary written in Braille, a dictionary that does not contain any words, download university-created term dictionaries as mobile apps, and see the world's smallest dictionary. More information about registering for classes and their content can be found in the ''Latvian School Bag'' program catalogue. Information prepared by: FTS Assoc. Prof. Dr. philol. Silga Sviķe, Director of the professional master's program "Translation and Terminology"

From July 7 to 12, the Multilingualism EU Summer School 2025 took place in Luxembourg for the second time. The participation of master's students in this summer school is ensured by the European Master's in Translation (EMT) network, which also includes the master's program Translation and Terminology of VUAS. Thirty-three students from master's programs in translation or law participated in the summer school. The school aimed to introduce participants to the importance of multilingualism and its practical implementation in EU institutions. This year, our program was represented at the school by Ailenda Bulindža-Leitiete. Ailenda shares: "Participation in the summer school was an excellent opportunity to visit the European Parliament and meet translator Alīna Grīnberga, get acquainted with the European Union (EU) Court's work and meet legal linguists Kristīne Bārdiņa and Kristaps Bērziņš. We also visited the European Court of Auditors, where we had the opportunity to speak with translator Inga Stodere. Additionally, during our visit to the European Commission, we met translator Mairita Drauga. At the Publications Office, I met translator Ieva Rozenberga, who told me about the daily work and the specifics of a translator. We also went to the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs and met with Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel, who guided us on a tour. We also visited the European Investment Bank. At each of the visited institutions, we met professionals who shared their experiences, told us about behind-the-scenes work, and encouraged us to engage in practical tasks. The summer school program was intense and packed with activities. There were presentations, thematic workshops, and discussions about language specialists' daily lives, as well as about the role of languages in a broader political and social context. I particularly remember the Luxembourg Foreign Minister's words that diversity is our strength. Of course, one of the summer school themes was also artificial intelligence (AI) and its role in the translation sector. However, this did not raise concerns about the future of the translator profession, but instead inspired us. It was emphasised that the future belongs to those who freely manage AI, and the discussion is about AI managed by translators, not about replacing translators with AI. No less significant was the experience in the informal part – getting to know each other, exchanging thoughts with participants and EU institution representatives, and the spirit of cooperation. This week provided an opportunity not only to gain professional knowledge but also to develop a firm conviction and motivation for translator work. I am especially grateful to the Latvian language section representatives of all the visited institutions. Thank you for the warm welcome and for sharing knowledge! The experience gained at the summer school will serve as a guide for my professional growth. I still think with a smile about every person I met during the summer school week. Luxembourg will now always be a place to return to – in thoughts, languages, or perhaps even as a professional."