Connecting Language Professionals at 2024's Translation Conferences

Selecting which translation and localization conferences to go to can be challenging. There are so many things to consider: the quality of the speakers, the networking opportunities, the relevance of topics, and, of course, whether it is in a convenient location. This post will help you sort through all your options and decide which event(s) to attend these years. Linguistic and translation events are a great way to network with colleagues and clients, learn about new trends in the industry, and be inspired by talks from experts in the field.

What do these events offer?

• Networking Opportunities
  These events are great for meeting new people and growing your professional network. You can share advice and find supportive contacts.
• Insights into the Latest Industry Trends and Technology
  Attending these conferences, forums, and meetup language exchange events is a great way to hear about what’s going on in your sector. You might even discover new areas of interest that you didn’t know existed before!
• Inspiration from Expert Talks
  Listening to others' stories is helpful. Even if they work in a different area, their experiences can inspire and provide valuable lessons for your career growth.

Here are some of the top language events in 2024

If you're looking to network with other translators and localization specialists or to learn more about the industry and new research in it, there are a few upcoming language events you should consider attending this year.

ICIT 2024 - International Conference on Interpreting and Translation

Worldwide, January 07-December 30

It is one of the largest international conferences on interpreting and translation in the world that brings together leading academic scientists, researchers, and research scholars from around the globe. Offering a dynamic platform, it encourages participants to engage in discussions about the latest innovations, trends, challenges, and solutions in the field. More info: https://conferenceindex.org/conferences/translation

ELIA Together Conference

Riga, Latvia, 22-23 February 2024

The European Language Industry Association, known as ELIA, is a leading trade association for the language services industry in Europe. Their primary commitment is to deliver benefits, events, and initiatives to support the growth of companies in this field.

ELIA Together conference serves as a platform where industry leaders, language service companies, and freelancers come together to discuss the present state and prospects of the language trade. More info: https://elia-association.org/event/together-2024/

GALA Conference

València, Spain, 21-23 April 2024

The Globalization and Localization Association (GALA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the study, research, and development of global localization strategies, as well as encouraging international collaboration among professionals working in this area. It aims to promote the use of localization in global business. GALA members share best practices, learn about new technologies, and connect with other professionals in the industry. The GALA Annual Conference is an opportunity to connect with language industry professionals from around the globe who represent diverse companies, sectors, and specialties in the linguistic field. More info: www.gala-global.org

NLP 6th International Conference and Natural Language Processing 

Xi'an, China, 22-24 March 2024

The International Conference on Natural Language Processing is the premier translation forum for the presentation of new research and development results in all aspects of natural language processing. This covers a range of inputs, including speech processing, machine translation, and translation aids, information extraction and text mining, computational linguistics and computational semantics, multimodal interfaces in NLP, and machine learning for NLP. More info: http://www.icnlp.net/

Conference Multilingualism in translation, the English-speaking world, 16th century – present

Lille, France, February/March 2024

This conference will explore how multilingualism has shaped how the English-speaking world has been understood and represented from the early modern period to the present day. After exploring how books with multiple languages are translated in 2023 at Université Paris Nanterre, the spotlight now shifts to a new focus in 2024 at Université de Lille. This time, the attention turns to movies, shows, and plays. More info: www.iatis.org

BP Translation Conference

Seville, Spain as well as online, 14-17 May 2024

BP Translation Conferences bring together translators worldwide to learn about the business and practice of freelancing. Sessions and workshops, guided by interpreters, provide pieces of advice on AI, content creation, productivity, language tools, and more. The event offers both online sessions in various languages and an in-person experience in Seville, Spain. More info: https://bpconf.com/

The International Association of Applied Linguistics (AILA) World Congress

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 11-16 August 2024

The AILA Congress is organized by the International Association of Applied Linguistics. It has reached its 60-year milestone and Malaysia has the honor of hosting the celebration of the 21st Congress. 

Building on the success of previous congresses, the theme for the 2024 event is Linguistic Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Sustainability. The program ensures a hybrid of events, providing a platform for networking opportunities. More info: https://aila2024.com/

ATA65- American Translators Association Conference

USA, Portland, Oregon, October 30-November 2, 2024 

The American Translators Association (ATA) is the largest professional organization for translators, interpreters, and localization professionals in the United States. It has more than 10,000 members worldwide who come from over 100 countries and work in more than 160 languages. The ATA's annual conference is designed to be an opportunity for translators from around the world to come together, learn from one another, share ideas, network, and have fun. More info: www.atanet.org

The LocWorld51 Dublin Conference

Dublin, Ireland, 5-7 June 2024

The conference features leaders from various industries discussing current trends in international business, translation, localization, and global website management. At the conference, the spotlight will be on the debate surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) and its various forms like generative AI and augmented intelligence. More info: https://locworld.com/call-for-papers-locworld51-dublin/

The ITI Conference

Edinburgh, Scotland as well as online, 4-5 June 2024

The ITI Conference is the biggest event for translators and interpreters in the UK. Its 2024 theme, "New world, new work" explores how the translation and interpreting field must adapt to the complex world, especially considering the influence of AI. Over 40 speakers will participate across four tracks, offering diverse perspectives and discussions. One session will specifically focus on interpreting. More info: https://www.iti.org.uk/training/events/iti-conference-2024.html

The Languages & The Media Conference 2024

Budapest, Hungary,  13-15 November 2024

The 15th Languages & The Media Conference explores how AI affects media and language localization. It covers topics like professional growth, diversity, viewer preferences, quality, and subtitling. More info: https://www.languages-media.com/

If you're in the translation field, the 2024 Translation Conferences are something you shouldn't miss. Consider these conferences as pivotal moments in your career journey, offering opportunities to expand knowledge and networks. They're not just about attendance but about forming enduring connections, gaining insights that fuel professional growth in the ever-evolving world of translation, and shaping the future of how languages resonate across the globe.