Every year on the second Wednesday of August, we celebrate World Calligraphy Day—a day dedicated to the art of beautiful writing. As a translator and language enthusiast, I find something magical in the way calligraphy brings together language, history, and art. It’s more than just fancy lettering; it’s a reminder of how writing used to be a deeply intentional craft—and how translation, too, has ancient, hands-on roots.
Before we had CAT tools, machine translation, or even typewriters, all written communication—including translations—was done by hand. And not just any handwriting! Scribes and scholars carefully copied texts word by word, line by line, often using ornate scripts that were considered works of art in themselves. Monks in medieval Europe, for example, translated religious and philosophical texts into Latin, Greek, and other languages, using calligraphy on parchment or vellum. In Islamic cultures, beautifully hand-transcribed Qur’ans and classical works in Arabic were passed down through generations. Chinese and Japanese calligraphy also played a major role in preserving and transmitting knowledge across regions and centuries.
Can you imagine the patience that was required? Not only did these translators have to fully understand the meaning of the original text, they had to meticulously write out every word, often under candlelight, using quills or brushes. One small ink blot or smudge could mean starting over. It’s hard not to admire the dedication behind that.
Today, most of us type away at keyboards and rely on software to help us manage glossaries, repetitions, and formatting. And while that definitely makes our lives easier (thank you, tech!), World Calligraphy Day reminds me to slow down and appreciate the human touch behind written words.
Sometimes, when I jot down notes in a notebook or write a card by hand, I think about how writing used to be a sacred, time-consuming act. Translation was once not just a transfer of meaning—it was a visual expression of it, too.
So today, I’m taking a moment to admire the art of calligraphy—and all the translators who came before us, brush or pen in hand, shaping language with every stroke.
Until next time, take care and stay safe!
XX
Translation Expert 