QNA
Doha
Experts and officials emphasized the role of translation in fostering cultural dialogue and strengthening global cooperation, contributing to strengthening the bonds of friendship and cooperation among the nations and peoples of the world.
In statements to the Qatar News Agency (QNA) on the occasion of International Translation Day, which falls on Sept 30 every year, they noted that translation has played a pioneering role in opening up to other cultures, helping to break free from cultural isolation and one-dimensional perspectives. They praised the role of the Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding, launched by the State of Qatar in 2015, in building bridges of communication between nations and peoples, rewarding excellence, encouraging creativity, and promoting noble values, diversity, and openness, while fostering a culture of knowledge and dialogue and spreading Arab and Islamic culture.
Media Advisor for Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding Dr Hanan Al Fayyad told QNA that the award has contributed over a decade to promoting the idea of cultural openness among the peoples of the world, relying on translation as one of the most important tools for resisting the cultural isolation that some cultures suffer from. She noted that during these ten years, there has been a significant interest from non-Arab translators in translating important Arabic works, which reflects a clear awareness and interest in reading Arab thought. It is undeniable that translators play a crucial role in presenting this work to readers, who in turn seek to uncover the true face of Arab culture, she added She pointed out that the award has played an important role in encouraging translation in the Arab world, with special attention to the value of translated works, which is evident in the quality of submissions for the award. This type of cultural exchange between the Arab world and others helps shift the prevailing language of dialogue from one filled with distortion and stereotyping to a more humane language that fosters explicit calls for deeper understanding among peoples.
Dr Hanan Al Fayyad explained that the award looks forward, as it enters a new decade, to continue bridging gaps between the world, aligning viewpoints, and promoting a culture of peace through well-thought-out plans to achieve these goals. This will be accompanied by establishing international partnerships with institutions specialized in culture and translation, or with active institutes in the field of translation and the Arabic language, she noted.
Pioneering role
For his part, translator and academic Jamal Shaheed, a researcher at the French Institute of the Near-East (Ifpo), said in a similar statement to QNA that translation has historically played a pioneering role in opening up to other cultures to break free from cultural isolation and the one-dimensional space. He pointed out that Arabs had a foundational role during the early Abbasid era, as translation began at the House of Wisdom in Baghdad, especially during the era of Al-Ma’mun. However, it diminished after the Mongol invasion of Baghdad and the spread of the Dark Ages, and it then revived in the 19th century with figures like Rifa’a Al-Tahtawi and Butrus Al-Bustani.
Shaheed, who won the Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation in 2017 in the category of translation from French to Arabic, added that the number of Arabic speakers currently exceeds half a billion people. However, the volume of translated works in our region remains weak compared to other peoples of the world, with translated publications not exceeding 1,500 books annually from the Atlantic to the Gulf, while the number reaches tens of thousands in major global languages, he noted.
He continued that the number of centres and publishing houses focusing on translation has increased in some Arab countries in recent years, which has encouraged and revitalized translation; this is a positive civilizational phenomenon. He praised the role of the Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding, launched by Qatar, which is a pioneer in this field, as it has encouraged translators to engage in scientific and accurate translation after the spread of commercial translations that have tarnished the reputation of translated Arab books, which continue to fill the shelves of libraries in all Arab cities.
For his part, Dr Kian Ahmed Hazem Yahya, an Iraqi translator and academic, said that translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text.
Dr Kian, winner of the Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation in 2018 in the English to Arabic translation category, added that the Award was created to promote cultural dialogue and mutual understanding among nations, recognizing translation’s crucial role in advancing global peace and prosperity.
He said that this award is open to all languages globally, requiring that the target language engage constructively with Arabic through translation or adaptation, indicating that it promotes cultural exchange without discrimination, welcoming Asian and African languages alongside European ones.
In turn, a researcher at the King Fahd School of Translation of Abdelmalek Essaadi University in Morocco Dr. Nadia Al-Ashiri explained in a similar statement that translation plays a vital role in bridging gaps between peoples through their diverse languages and cultures, adding that transferring one culture to another encourages mutual understanding and dialogue, reducing fear from unfamiliarity.
The Moroccan translator and researcher affirmed the success of the Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding in building bridges of understanding, dialogue, and coexistence between cultures, by adopting the best translators and critics specialized in several languages, with each session dedicated to a living language, without neglecting less commonly used languages, thus promoting linguistic justice. The large number of translators who are invited are celebrated in a way that encourages them to give more, she said, noting that the award granted by the State of Qatar with this material and moral value places it at the forefront of countries that have given and continue to give translation and translators the status they deserve.
Over 7,000 spoken languages
More than 7,000 languages are spoken, and few are written. This highlights the importance of translation contributing to the transfer of knowledge between many languages, as it constituted a basic value for the UN, which made Sept. 30 the International Translation Day.
The International Federation of Translators announced that the theme of International Translation Day 2024 is “Translation, an art worth protecting” to be a space for exchanging ideas, perceptions, and aspirations about what is considered success or failure in a profession with no limits to testing and learning.
