Variables Influencing the Occupational Prestige of Translation
Iranian Translation Students’ Perspectives
Abstract
This qualitative study explores occupational prestige in translation through Iranian students' perspectives (N=115), selected via stratified sampling across 10 universities. Thematic analysis identified compensation, specialized knowledge, and meritocratic recognition as key enhancers of prestige, while low pay, lack of institutional support, and societal undervaluation diminished status. The Iranian context—marked by limited professional infrastructure but existing certification frameworks—revealed unique tensions in prestige perception. Participants emphasized translation’s identity as both a skilled profession and cultural art, highlighting the irreplaceable role of human expertise in linguistic and cultural mediation. Findings suggest structural interventions (e.g., standardized certification, public awareness campaigns, and strengthened educational pathways) could elevate the profession’s standing. The study contributes to debates about professionalization in non-Western contexts, offering practical insights for academic programs and policymakers aiming to bolster translators’ status amid evolving occupational landscapes.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Hoda Hadipour, Saeed Ketabi, Mahmoud Afrouz, Zahra Amirian
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Copyright Licensee: Iranian Journal of Translation Studies. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0 license).
