Who killed the EU’s translators?

Permanent staffers in the Commission’s dedicated translation unit — known in Brussels jargon as DGT — dwindled from around 2,450 in 2013 to around 2,000 in 2023, according to the EU’s executive.

During this same period, mental health issues and cases of burnout rose significantly among translators

translators specializing in less common languages have an easier time entering the Commission, since there’s less competition around rarer tongues.

“Irish students have loads of offers from DGT all the time,”

“I already know that I probably won’t be translating for the rest of my life,” said a young Council translator who spoke on condition of anonymity since she is not authorized to speak to the media. She added that post editing will likely be the bulk of her work in the future.

Hans Lenting wrote:

Some quotes:

But translators insist that their death is greatly exaggerated. Although the job is adapting to AI, the human element remains essential, they say.

Philip Lees wrote:

Not only that, but here's another quote from the same article that suggests the problem isn't as bad as all that.

Hans Lenting wrote:

Here in Tilburg we say: Iedereen kan zichzelf belangrijk lullen. Meaning: the translators can say a lot, but at the end of the financial year the managers decide what will happen.

Philip Lees wrote:

I don't consider that a drop of around 18% justifies the use of the word "dwindle", which suggests something decreasing until it's close to zero. This makes me question the linguistic ability (and judgement) of the article's author.