On 20 March 2025, the Turkish Language Section organized an academic activity featuring Mr. Stefan Vuçani, translator at the Embassy of Türkiye in Tirana, who shared his professional experience in a discussion entitled “Between Diplomacy, Culture and Translation.”
Mr. Vuçani initially spoke about the historical relations between Türkiye and Albania, the teaching of Turkish at the Faculty of History and Philology, and his professional experience as a translator at the Turkish Embassy. He reflected on his direct exposure to the world of diplomacy, his encounters with prominent political and cultural figures from both the Republic of Türkiye and the Republic of Albania, as well as the challenges and complexities involved in working as a translator and interpreter.
He shared with the audience memorable experiences from meetings with renowned writers, including Yaşar Kemal during his visit to Albania and Aziz Nesin during a professional visit to Türkiye, as well as with other distinguished literary figures.
During the discussion, Mr. Vuçani also shared his experience in translating works by Turkish authors into Albanian, mentioning several titles he has made available to Albanian readers.
The Turkish language lecturers joined the discussion, highlighting his contribution to enriching the body of literature translated from Turkish into Albanian.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Mr. Vuçani offered the students valuable advice on pursuing a career in translation, emphasizing the importance of a deep knowledge of the language, grammar, reading, literature, history and Turkish culture. He stressed that technology can support the translation process, but that knowledge and a genuine passion for language remain essential to becoming a good translator.
