About TRIN
For 30 years, the Department of Translation and Interpreting has an outstanding track record in translation and interpreting. The degree program in Translation and Interpretation trains translators and interpreters in Turkish, English and French. It is dedicated to providing students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the evolving and challenging field of translation and interpretation.
Our curriculum combines theoretical and practical knowledge to equip our students with the necessary toolkit in light of the existing demands of the field. The curriculum is designed to introduce a building block approach towards acquisition of translation and interpreting skills. Our course offerings include a wide range of topics, from basic translation and interpreting courses to advanced courses supplemented with courses aimed at enriching general knowledge and world know-how of the students such as culture, technology, international institutions, diction and Turkish language. Specialized courses such as note-taking, consecutive interpreting, translation of texts on economy, law, current affairs, technology, literature etc. are also given all the while to help students find their passion in this field, and guide them accordingly.
We also offer a variety of electives to help students tailor their education to their individual interests and career goals. The staff at Department of Translation and Interpretation is committed to providing a constructive and enabling learning environment for all students. promote critical thinking about language use, translation and interpreting while encouraging an understanding of the various factors involved in these processes. We offer a variety of courses from fundamental concepts to advanced skills in translation and interpreting. These cover research, text and discourse analysis, communication and presentation skills, comprehension, reformulation, production techniques as well as translation and interpreting skills in various fields.
Pedagogical materials along with authentic resources, speeches are used to simulate various translation and interpreting challenges. Students learn to use innovative software such as computer-assisted translation and interpreting, machine translation, and corpora. Mock conferences also provide a milieu for students to practice actual preparation and performance skills while others develop their world knowledge through listening experts in various fields.
AUF Visit to TRIN
We were pleased to host Laure Castin, Director of the Regional Office for Central and Eastern Europe of the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF), and Mihaela Alion, Regional Representative responsible for projects, in our department on February 24, 2025. As a member of the AUF since 2022, our university highly values this collaboration, and the visit provided a fruitful opportunity to explore new avenues for academic cooperation and exchange. We appreciate their time and valuable insights and look forward to further strengthening our partnership with the AUF in the future.
New Translation !!
We are proud to announce that the Turkish translation of Girl (Fille) by Camille Laurens, originally published by Gallimard, has been completed by one of our senior students, Giray Başbuğ. Giray is also pursuing a minor degree in English Language and Literature.
Camille Laurens is an award-winning French novelist and essayist. She received the Prix Femina, one of France’s most prestigious literary prizes, in 2000 for Dans ces bras-là, which was published in the United States as In His Arms in 2004. Her previous books include Who You Think I Am (Other Press, 2017) and Little Dancer Aged Fourteen (Other Press, 2018). She lives in Paris.
We congratulate our student on this remarkable accomplishment and look forward to seeing more contributions to the field of literary translation.
Bilkent at Interpreting Europe 2025
The Interpreting Europe Conference 2025, the flagship event of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Interpretation (DG SCIC), took place on February 6-7, 2025, in Brussels. The conference brought together interpreter trainers, professionals, and policymakers to discuss the evolving landscape of conference interpreting, including training methodologies, technological advancements, and the challenges of multilingual communication. Duygu Duman, Head of the Department and Zeynep Şengel, Graduate Program Coordinator represented the department, participated in discussions with fellow course leaders, sharing insights on interpreter education and the profession’s future.
Panel Discussion: Interpreting and Psychology in Crisis Settings
04.12.2024 – Ankara / TRIN instructor Zeynep Şengel participated in a panel discussion jointly organized by Hacettepe University’s Department of Translation and Interpreting and Department of Psychology.
In her talk, Şengel explored the evolving role of interpreters in crisis situations, particularly in natural disasters, humanitarian aid operations, and work with refugees, trauma survivors, and other vulnerable groups. She presented a literature review on interpreting norms and various interpreting settings, examining how these factors interact with the risks of secondary and vicarious trauma.
This multidisciplinary event underscored the growing importance of interpreters as frontline communication professionals in emergency and crisis settings, reaffirming the necessity of a holistic approach that integrates linguistic expertise with psychological resilience
Celebrating Translation Day
with Yiğit Bener
02.10.2024 – Ankara / We had the pleasure of hosting renowned author and translator Yiğit Bener for a talk titled “Can literary works be translated without being a literary figure?”
Yiğit Bener, who has translated the works of literary giants such as Albert Camus and Julio Cortázar, drew from his rich experience of over 40 years as both a literary figure and a conference interpreter. Bener’s background spans six novels, five collections of short stories, and notable translations, such as Louis Ferdinand Céline’s “Voyage au bout de la nuit” (Journey to the End of the Night) for which he received the 2002 World Translation Award. His work continues to bridge the cultural and artistic gap between France and Turkey, recently earning him the prestigious Chevalier of Arts and Letters award from the French Ministry of Culture.
During the talk, Bener shared his thoughts on how the depth of a translator’s literary knowledge and flexibility together with research capabilities can shape the accuracy, fidelity and creativity of a translated text. He also talked about censorship in literature; shared personal stories from his career, offering valuable insights into the challenging interplay between authorship and translation.
New Faculty Member
We are delighted to welcome Dr. Zachary Murphy King to our department. Dr. King, who received his Ph.D. in Slavic Languages and Literatures from the University of Chicago in 2023, has an exciting research agenda focusing on the intersection of translation, politics, and literary theory. His expertise will undoubtedly be a valuable addition to our academic community at TRIN.
June 2024, 1st National Congress on Translation Studies, İzmir – Bilkent TRIN made its presence felt at the “1st National Congress on Translation Studies,” held from June 27 to 29, 2024, at İzmir University of Economics. Asst. Prof. Duygu Duman delivered an insightful presentation on the pivotal role of actors in community interpreting services within healthcare and education. She underscored the profound impact of international organizations on national systems and the necessity for collaborative efforts among these actors.
Büşra Kurt Uçar presented an innovative syllabus proposal for a localization course. Emphasizing the need for a structured syllabus that incorporates relevant and up-to-date materials, exercises, and technological tools, she presented compelling evidence drawn from feedback provided and a questionnaire filled out by students who had experienced the course. This evidence reinforced the relevance of her proposed syllabus in meeting the evolving demands of the contemporary localization sector.
In another session, Zeynep Şengel provided a thorough analysis comparing international standards and guidelines pertaining to plain and easy language. She elaborated on the distinct target audiences, intended uses, and foundational principles of these approaches, while also proposing promising avenues for future research at the intersection of plain language and translation.