About KäTu

The annual KäTu Symposia on Translation and Interpreting Studies are intended to offer the researchers, teachers and practitioners of translation and interpreting a forum in which they can present their on-going research projects and discuss the state and development of Translation and Interpreting Studies and the diverse phenomena of translation and interpreting.

Since 2003, the KäTu symposia have brought together researchers, teachers and professional translators and interpreters from all corners of the fields of translation and interpreting, both as audience and speakers. Such a forum where both researchers and practitioners of translation meet is unique, even in global terms.
Each symposium is organised in turn by a Finnish university offering training for translators and interpreters, together with the Teachers’ and Researchers’ Section of The Finnish Association of Translators and Interpreters (SKTL).

Each symposium has a specific theme, but in line with the traditions of the KäTu symposia, papers on other aspects of translation and interpreting are also warmly welcome.

Programme and timeline

The two-day symposium typically includes two plenary presentations, as well as shorter presentations, workshops or panels and a poster session. Since 2016, the symposium has been preceded by a pre-symposium training event. The event is primarily aimed at doctoral candidates but others are welcome to register as well.

As the KäTu symposia take place in April, the annual deadline for submitting proposals for workshops or panels is around the preceding mid-November. Notifications of acceptance will be sent in early December.

The annual deadline for submitting proposals for presentations and posters is usually before mid-January, and notifications of acceptance will be sent during February.

Reviewing of proposals for presentations and posters

The proposals for presentations and posters will be reviewed by the members of the board of the Teachers’ and Researchers’ Section of the Finnish Association of Translators and Interpreters (information in Finnish). Additional reviewers will be invited when necessary due to, for example, the large number of proposals or potential conflicts of interest.

Each proposal is assessed independently by two reviewers. When necessary, a reviewer may consult the second reviewer reading the same proposal, or one of the other reviewers. The reviewers’ options are as follows:

1. The proposal is accepted as such.
2. The proposal is accepted subject to revision.
3. The proposal is rejected.

Each proposal must clearly state the research question or setting and, in the case of an empirical study, the material/data and the methods. The proposals must also be clearly structured and written in correct academic English.