Seeking to address the dearth of non-Arab books in the Arab world, Saudi Arabia is setting up an organization to do translations of a wide range of materials into Arabic. The range of books appears to be primarily academic, and I guess that makes sense as Saudis are notoriously not readers of fiction. Any program that will open contextual windows on the rest of the world, however, will be useful in the Kingdom which saw its information doors kicked in by the information revolution. Unaddressed in this Arab News article, though, is what role, if any, censors will play in the organization. That’s not unimportant.
Saudi Arabia to Set Up International Translation Center
M. Ghazanfar Ali Khan, Arab NewsRIYADH — Saudi Arabia has announced plans to set up an autonomous international translation center with a mandate to translate references, textbooks, international literature and scientific materials to be used by individuals as well as local and international institutions.
The proposed center will also help bridge the gap between Arab and Western cultures, boost the process of Arabization and also address the problems of shortage of translators and interpreters.
This was disclosed by Dr. Faisal M. Al-Mohanna, dean of College of Languages and Translation (COLT), here on Thursday. Dr. Al-Mohanna said that “there was a pressing need for translation of references, textbooks and international knowledge materials besides the demand for oral translation from the public and private sectors.” “And, hence, the proposed translation center will go a long way in solving this problem,” he added.
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February:16:2008 - 14:55
Islam And The West Accelerated Links
Crossroads Arabia on Saudi plans to translate non-fiction western books into Arabic.
February:16:2008 - 14:55
This is a problem in the entire Arabic speaking world. I remember attending a “khutba” a couple of years ago where the “khateeb” lamented that there were more books translated into Greek the year before than in Arabic.
When you keep in mind that the Arabic speaking world has some 300 million members and the Greek speaking world has less than 20 million, you’ll see the issue.
February:16:2008 - 14:55
I think the ratio the US used in its 2003 report was that Spain translated more books in one year than the entire Arab world had, ever, in all its history.
February:16:2008 - 14:55
The first words given to Mohammad from Allah were “Read” I think Muslims have intrepreted it to mean read ONLY the Quran!
February:16:2008 - 14:55
Oh Oh my friends and I were discussing an American living in Mecca whose Saudi husband does not allow her to read. She downloads books on her phone and hides them from her husband. Imagine if a Saudi husband has the gull to do that to an American wife what one would do with a Saudi wife?
I know many Saudi families who do read and who are highly educated, so I am not trying to stereotype all Saudis just saying the mentality of it is forbidden to read other the Holy book is not so uncommon in certain walks of life.
There are a lot of ladies graduating from translation and looking for work and unfortunately the demand must not be there to translate books or else they would be employed!
February:16:2008 - 14:55
Sparky:
You could recommend http://www.gutenberg.net to your friend. Thousands of free books which are no longer under copyright. It covers practically every classic is covered plus lots of pulp stuff like Tarzan (I have a huge weakness for the Ape-man), PG Wodehouse, etc. It is my trusted friend on many a long journey.
February:16:2008 - 14:55
I am curious after thinking about this, exactly what books do they plan to translate? I cannot think of a single great classic that will not get the religious authorities in a tizzy over “illegal mingling.” I’ll bet even Jane Austen would be considered too risque. I am the greatest admirer of Ms. Austen but I fear even her 19th C. restrictive society might be considered too modern.
February:16:2008 - 14:55
Oliveoil I don’t know about Jane Austen but think Tarzan would be a fairly safe translation although it is about a love affair between a beast and a woman.
Hmmmm….I think that will pass
Thanks for the website I will pass it on to my friend who can then pass it on to the poor woman.
February:16:2008 - 14:55
Olive: I hope you don’t class PG Wodehouse as pulp?
My best friend on long journeys! When other people look up surprised because I fall from the chair laughing.
Such an amusing author is not regarded as ”real literature” in the Netherlands. And I’m ashamed to say, neither is ms Austen. Because she is too intelligent for the majority to see it. I was really shocked to hear a translator(!), who had just translated her books (again) describe her work as dealing with: love and pretty dresses. One can only wonder what the translation would have been like.
Sorry ,rambling on.
Ms. Austen will not pass censure: shocking things happen: walks, dancing, elopements, letter writing, intelligent females; the books are full of haram stuff. Same but even worse goes for PG Wodehouse.
Great site, btw.
How horrible: not being allowed to read: I consider that ground for divorce.
February:16:2008 - 14:55
Alas, the article suggests that non-fiction books will be translated under this program. Fiction is far too dangerous, even Jane Austen!
I’d be interested to see just what non-fiction ends up on the list. There’s plenty of that which would be considered ‘transgressive’, too. Evolution? Sexual Psychology? Comparative Religion? Translating books on trigonometry or calculus isn’t going to be terrifically useful as tools of transformation…
February:16:2008 - 14:55
They should start by translating Havelock Ellis perhaps:) Or maybe, someone could recommend Richard Burton.
Aafke: I would never consider Wodehouse pulp! Lord Emsworth, the Empress of Blandings, and above all Jeeves are IMMORTALS in the realm of literature.
Yes, I get a lot of flak over my liking for Austen because she is considered “chick lit.” I am eternally grateful for the internet because it has helped me hook up with fellow Austen maniacs so that we can indulge in admiration for the great authoress without getting funny looks from friends and neighbors.
February:16:2008 - 14:55
Aafke said, “How horrible: not being allowed to read: I consider that ground for divorce.â€
Unfortunately Aafke she is held captive in Saudi Arabia unless she chooses to flee the country against her husband’s desire and that would mean never seeing her kids again most likely as he seems like a prick.
If any foreigner marries an American citizen and lives in the U.S. he/she gets a green card which gives them something called RIGHTS….
A. The right to work wherever they want AND
B. The right to divorce the original American if the American partner proves to be an incompatible match with them at any point which is highly likely consider divorce rates all over the world
America is all about RIGHTS and that is why America will always prevail at least in America…
“America is great because America is good and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.†–Alexis de Tocqueville
February:16:2008 - 14:55
Is Salman Rushdie published in Arabic?
Harry Potter!
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
The Guide to modern Wicca?
The secrets of tantric sex?
Womens rights NOW?
Olive: I didn’t really think so, hence the smiley!
Oh! The inimicable Empress of Blandings, and her rival, Queen of Matchingham! The presence of these porcine heroïnes will be enough to ban Wodehouse from the list!
(yes I know John, only non-fiction)
Olive, from one Jane Austen-fan to the next; in England itself she is regarded as one of the three greatest writers of the nineteenth century. Together with Charles Dickens and Thomas Hardie, and you can spend a whole evening discussing which has the sharpest intellect and not come to a conclusion. So I take it that we can trust the english themselves to choose their top-writers, and we don’t have to conform to the shortsighted ignorance of the critics from our prospective countries.
(The word ”pigs” is in Pride and Prejudice too!)
Sparky: I didn’t think he might be my dream-rabbit. Perheaps a little something extra in the qawa to solve the problem?
February:16:2008 - 14:55
Aafke:
You should come by http://www.austen.com or http://www.pemberley.com and hook up with other Austen maniacs.
I never to stomach Thomas Hardy but I adore Dickens. That said, I think Austen trumps them both in pure genius. Just my view point:)
John: I am curious though. What with all the plans for expanding education and opening new univs and all, exactly what IS being taught at these places? Text books in English only? Home-grown products? Limited numbers of carefully screened and translated texts? Also, isn’t there some kind of a home-grown literary scene? I guess I find it is difficult for me to imagine a world where books are not a staple of daily existence, but I am curious as to what people read on the beach (so to speak).
February:16:2008 - 14:55
I can easily believe that Jane Austen’s works would be highly appealing to women in S.A., for a number of her female characters are empowered despite having their freedom impaired by living in a society dominated by men. How many Saudis have read Pride and Prejudice? Would there really be no benefit to them doing so?
February:16:2008 - 14:55
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”
Perfect summary of the socio-economic reality and gender power-balance of her times.
My favorite is Mansfield Park. I dislike all the characters, but the novel improves with each reading.
There were some great female authors in the 19th and early 20th C. who would really appeal to women struggling to find their identity in repressive societies where they had few powers. Not the Bronte Sisters (too psychotic in parts)–but Edith Wharton and Elizabeth Gaskell springs to mind. Or the ones who wrote for a younger audience, like Louisa May Alcott, Elizabeth Nesbit, Frances Hodgson Burnet.
I think I need to go read something to cheer myself up.