The International Conference “Language. Culture. Translation: Intercultural Communication in the Digital Age” held at ENU

The Department of Translation Theory and Practice of the Faculty of Philology L.N.Gumilyov Eurasian National University hosted the annual II International Scientific and Practical Conference titled “Language. Culture. Translation: Intercultural Communication in the Digital Age.”

The plenary session was opened by Gulmira Bekmanova, Member of the Management Board – Vice-Rector for Digitalization of L.N.Gumilyov Eurasian National University. In her speech, the Vice-Rector welcomed the members and guests of the Conference and emphasized that

“Holding this Conference has become a good tradition, reflecting the high level of scientific activity of our academic environment and the desire for international dialog. In today's world, where digitalization changes not only the ways of communication, but also the very perception of culture and language, the issues stated in the framework of the conference are particularly relevant”.

Dean of the Faculty of Philology Serikzat Duisengazy addressed the Conference members with a welcoming speech, Dean of the Faculty of Philology S. Duysengazy addressed the conference members with a welcoming speech, in which he emphasized the relevance of the discussed topics related to the transformation of translation and interpretation activity in the rapidly developing digital environment.

The Conference served as a unifying platform for foreign and domestic scholars, expert interpreters and young researchers from the USA, Czech Republic, Poland, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation, Uzbekistan, China and other countries. The plenary session included reports by leading scientists and experts such as:

PhD Viktorie Vajdová (University of Ostrava, Czech Republic) presented on “The Influence of the Czech Language on Russian: Interference in Communication,” shedding light on the linguistic interaction between Slavic languages and the issue of language interference among bilinguals.

PhD, Associate Professor Piero Ianniello (University of New Haven, USA) gave a talk titled “Intercultural Communication: The Unavoidable Stereotypes,” analyzing the nature of cultural stereotypes and their role in intercultural communication.

Doctor of Philology, Associate Professor Gulnara Kuldeyeva (L.N. Gumilyov ENU, Kazakhstan) addressed the topic “Methodology of Teaching Translation: Relevance and Challenges of the Discipline,” emphasizing the need for new pedagogical approaches.

PhD, Associate Professor Damjan Popič (University of Ljubljana, Slovenia) discussed the prospects of AI and technology in translation in his presentation “Bridging Bytes and Babel: AI, Transliteration, and the Future of Global Translation.”

PhD, Associate Professor Assiya Sulkarnayeva (Kazakhstan Branch of Lomonosov Moscow State University) shared findings from a sociological study in her talk “Translation and the Translator: A Non-Translator’s Perspective.”

PhD, Associate Professor Saltanat Mambaeva (Manas Kyrgyz-Turkish University, Kyrgyzstan) presented a study titled “Peculiarities of Translating Stylistic Devices in the Epics from Kyrgyz into English,” focusing on the complexities and nuances of literary epic translation.

PhD, Professor Onur Köksal (Selçuk University, Turkey) discussed “A Literature Review on the Effectiveness of Remote Interpreting Platforms,” offering a comparative analysis of KUDO, Interprefy, Voiceboxer, Interactio, SpeakUs, and Zoom.

Gulshan Aliyeva-Tufek, Chairperson of Association of Professional Translators and Translation Companies, Head of Kazakhstan Academy of Translation JSC and spoke on “Teaching Interpreting in the Digital Age,” highlighting new platforms and teaching methods.

Following the plenary session, the conference continued in three thematic sections:

1. Innovative Technologies in Translation Teaching and Translation Studies – discussing modern teaching methodologies, digital platforms, and resources.
2. Artificial Intelligence and Multimedia Translation – focusing on machine translation technologies, automation processes, and the role of media texts.
3. Issues in Translation and Intercultural Communication – emphasizing linguistic and cultural aspects, translation of realia, idioms, and cultural codes.

A total of 57 scientific presentations were delivered, covering a wide range of relevant topics in modern translation studies. The event served as a significant platform for knowledge exchange, building professional networks, and discussing the future development of translation in the context of digitalization and globalization.

The Conference concluded with a lively discussion where participants unanimously expressed the importance of continuing this annual dialogue on intercultural communication, implementing innovative approaches in education, and strengthening international academic cooperation.