On 30 September, the United Nations observes International Translation Day, established by resolution 71/288 adopted on 24 May 2017. The date corresponds to the feast of Saint Jerome, traditionally considered the patron of translators. The day highlights the importance of translation in global communication, as well as the challenges and complexities that come with interpreting languages and cultures. Literature has long explored the consequences of translation errors, misinterpretations, and linguistic challenges, showing how language can shape understanding, conflict, and even destiny. In Jules Verne’s The Children of Captain Grant, a distress message found in a shark's stomach leads to confusion due to multiple translations in different languages. The characters' interpretations of the message lead them on a series of geographical misadventures. The novel suggests that the problem was not a bad translation, but rather the missing information that made the message dangerous. This illustrates how even accurate translations can lead to unintended consequences when critical details are omitted or misunderstood. Barbara Kingsolver’s The Poisonwood Bible features a mistranslation of the word "bangala," which the character Nathan Price intends to mean "precious" but is understood as referring to "poisonwood," a plant that causes itching. This linguistic error highlights the consequences of not understanding the audience's perspective. The novel underscores the importance of cultural sensitivity and the potential for harm when translations fail to consider the context and meaning within the target language. China Miéville’s Embassytown, translated by Nathalie Mège, presents a society where communication is essential. The Hosts' language requires simultaneous vocalization, and humans use pairs of Ambassadors to communicate. The introduction of EzRa, a new pair, leads to a dependency on their speech, causing societal disintegration. This narrative explores how language can be both a bridge and a barrier, and how reliance on specific forms of communication can lead to instability when those forms change or are disrupted. Samuel R. Delany’s Babel-17 explores the idea that language shapes perception. The protagonist, Rydra Wong, discovers that mastering the language Babel-17 alters thought patterns and can make the speaker an involuntary instrument of the enemy. The novel suggests that understanding a language can change one's worldview, emphasizing the power of language to influence thought and behavior.