Association of Polish Translators and Interpreters

The Association of Polish Translators and Interpreters (Polish: Stowarzyszenie Tłumaczy Polskich, STP; English abbreviation APTI) is a Polish professional association and the longest-operating organization of translators in Poland. It is unique in the country in that it brings together translators of all specializations — written and conference, sworn (certified), literary, technical, journalistic and others. The association was founded in 1981, following the political opening that came with the events of August 1980, after more than a decade of efforts by the translator community to establish an independent organization. It was registered on 29 January 1981, and its founding congress was held in Warsaw on 15 February 1981 with 127 translators from across Poland and from various specializations. The STP's statutory goals include representing translators' interests in the protection of their professional, moral and material rights, and participating in the shaping of Polish and international copyright law and other regulations concerning the rights and duties of translators. The association works to promote high standards in the translation market, quality of translations, fair remuneration, adherence to professional ethics and the protection of intellectual property. It also works to uphold the image of the translation profession, to integrate the professional community and to ensure proper representation of its interests before state institutions and bodies, other organizations and associations, social partners and the public. At its peak, the STP had around 2,200 members in the 1990s and about 2,500 members in the early 21st century, organized in six sections (literary translation, scientific and technical translation, journalistic translation, consecutive interpreting, simultaneous interpreting and sworn translation) and eight regional branches: Gdańsk, Katowice, Kraków, Łódź, Poznań, Szczecin, Warsaw and Wrocław (the last was dissolved in 1997). A Club of the Young Translator (Klub Młodego Tłumacza) operates within the STP for people who do not yet have enough professional experience to become full members or who are just starting out in the profession. The association remains active in the Polish and international translation community. Its website reports ongoing activities such as partnership with the International Book Fair in Kraków, partnership with a translators' conference in Warsaw, information about European Commission translation traineeships, and matters concerning PLR (public lending right) remuneration administered through SAiW COPYRIGHT POLSKA. The STP is a membership-based, non-profit professional body rather than a commercial enterprise, but it functions as a recognized institutional brand in the Polish translation market.

The Association of Polish Translators and Interpreters (Stowarzyszenie Tłumaczy Polskich, STP) was the first organization in Poland to bring together translators of various specializations and translation techniques. Its origins lie in the early 1980s, but the effort to create such an organization had been underway for more than a decade. As the association's own historical account notes, preparations and efforts by the translator community to establish their own integrating organization lasted several years, and the authorities of the time took a negative view of the idea, arguing that the translators' section within the Union of Polish Writers (Związek Literatów Polskich) and the ZAiKS Authors' Association were sufficient. Only after the events of August 1980 did an opportunity arise to make another attempt at creating an independent translators' organization — this time successfully. The association's history singles out Anatol Hanftwurcel, Andrzej Kopczyński, Roman Skirgajłło and Witold Straus as particularly meritorious for the idea of founding the association. The STP was registered on 29 January 1981, and on 15 February 1981 the Founding Congress was held in Warsaw, attended by 127 translators representing various regions of the country and various specializations. The goals of the STP were formulated in its statute: representing translators' interests in the field of protecting their professional, moral and material rights; co-participating in the shaping of Polish and international copyright law and other regulations concerning the rights and duties of translators; and related aims concerning professional standards, fair remuneration, professional ethics and intellectual property protection. In the 1990s the STP had approximately 2,200 members, and at the beginning of the 21st century it had about 2,500 members. These members were organized in six sections — literary translation, scientific and technical translation, journalistic translation, consecutive interpreting, simultaneous interpreting and sworn translation — and in eight regional branches: Gdańsk, Katowice, Kraków, Łódź, Poznań, Szczecin, Warsaw and Wrocław. The Wrocław branch was dissolved in 1997. Over the decades, the association has continued to pursue its statutory mission: protecting translators' professional rights, promoting high standards in the translation market, quality of translations, fair remuneration principles, adherence to professional ethics and protection of intellectual property. It also works to uphold the image of the translation profession, to integrate the professional community and to ensure proper representation of its interests before state institutions and bodies, other organizations and associations, social partners and the public. A Club of the Young Translator (Klub Młodego Tłumacza) operates within the STP, bringing together people who do not yet have sufficient professional experience to become full members of the STP or who are just beginning work in the translation profession. The association remains active in the 2020s, partnering with events such as the International Book Fair in Kraków and the Translators' Conference in Warsaw, and providing information to members about matters such as European Commission translation traineeships and PLR (public lending right) remuneration administered through SAiW COPYRIGHT POLSKA.

• 2026

  STP is a partner of the Translators' Conference in Warsaw.

• 2026

  STP is a partner of the International Book Fair in Kraków, 22–25 October 2026.

• 1997

  The Wrocław regional branch is dissolved.

• 1981

  The Association of Polish Translators and Interpreters is registered.

• 1981

  Founding Congress held in Warsaw with 127 translators from across Poland and various specializations.

Poland's longest-running and only all-specialization professional association for translators and interpreters, focused on rights protection, professional standards and community integration.

• Professional membership

  Membership for translators and interpreters across all specializations.

• Six professional sections

  Sections for literary translation, scientific and technical translation, journalistic translation, consecutive interpreting, simultaneous interpreting and sworn translation.

• Regional branches

  Branches in Gdańsk, Katowice, Kraków, Łódź, Poznań, Szczecin, Warsaw and Wrocław (Wrocław dissolved in 1997).

• Klub Młodego Tłumacza (Young Translator Club)

  A club for people who do not yet have enough professional experience to become full members or who are just starting in the profession.

1. 1Stowarzyszenie Tłumaczy Polskich | Pierwsza organizacja tłumaczy w Polscestp.org.pl
2. 2Cztery dziesięciolecia z STP. Rys historyczny | Stowarzyszenie Tłumaczy Polskichstp.org.pl
3. 3Association of Polish Translators and Interpreterswikidata.org
4. 4Stowarzyszenie Tłumaczy Polskichpl.wikipedia.org