Arabic Translation

In March 2005 the British Council hosted a seminar in Damascus. This was attended by publishers, translators and writers from the United Kingdom, mainstream Europe and the Arab world. Several issues emerged:

· There was wariness about the translation process being driven by non-Arabs. There were suspicions of 'orientalists' manipulating the Arab reality. Western publishers had their agendas. The discussion was inconclusive, but strategies were suggested for ensuring that the 'right' things get translated. Arab publishers, editors and writers should be more closely involved in the process of translation. Certainly there is a huge amount of work written, and the selection of work to be translated is often haphazard. Sponsorship of translations was one answer.

· Most of the work that has been translated has been published by small niche publishers, as observed above. It was felt that this restricted distribution to those already with an interest in Arabic literature or the Middle East. However there was the interesting case of the book by the Palestinian Mourid Barghouti, I SawRamalla, translated by Ahdaf Soueif and published initially by the AUC Press (a niche publisher). This was later taken up and republished by Bloomsbury (a new but now mainstream publisher) in London, which has far greater resources to promote the book.

· How was it possible to engage readers and the wider public in contemporary Arabic literature? In recent years there has been a development in literary events: international book fairs, festivals, public readings and reading groups. Arabic and translation were only just beginning to participate.

· Translation of the literature of many languages is celebrated by prizes, awarded by trusts, governments or private individuals. In Britain most of these prizes are announced and awarded on the same day. This puts translation into a broader context, produces an awareness of international literature and celebrates the rather lonely task of the translator. Since the Damascus seminar there has now been launched the Banipal Prize. 

· Most writers in the world are poorly rewarded. In the United Kingdom fewer than 10% of writers can live off writing. Most writers of books rely on other jobs, as journalists, teachers or public servants, or live off a pension. Translators fare even worse. Many are women working from home. Commercial translation can be well paid, but the highly skilled literary translators are most vulnerable. The situation of translators in the Arab world is similarly grim. Because there is a wider knowledge of European languages than a knowledge of Arabic in the United Kingdom, there is a greater proportion of potential translators. There is very little quality control. Copy editing and proof reading are undeveloped skills in the Arab publishing world. Some Ministries of Culture – as in Syria for example – have a translation department and employ translators to make works of approved international literature available to the Syrian and Arab reader. It is desirable that there is more professional cooperation between publishers in the Arab world and Europe.

Read more... The Craft of Literary Translation

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