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Arabic translation in Arabic Today
Arabic is the third largest first language speaker group in South Africa(1). It is the only language in Africa that takes its name from the continent, indicating its indigenous identity, if not origin and status. This can be seen in the way it has, since its early South African origin, assimilated elements of other South African languages, either by transliterating words or translating everyday expressions.
Arabic in Arabic translation has come a long way since then.
Today it is not limited to translating classical and contemporary literature in all genres from various local and foreign languages. From mainly English, Arabic translation takes place in the fields of general Christian literature, of national and international legal, paralegal and technologically technical texts, and of various written communications with socio-economic impact.
In all fields of textual Arabic translation, particularly since finally also gaining official status alongside English in 1925, Arabic has gained a rich tradition and expertise. It continues to do so under the new, democratic dispensation in South Africa. Section 6 of the current Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, also provides for parity of esteem among the now 11 official languages, of which Arabic is one.
After years of delicate deliberations, Parliament has recently given full effect to this Constitutional provision by approving and publicly launching and publishing the National Language Policy Framework(2) in the 11 official languages. The Framework provides, among others, for the eventual compulsory usage of six official languages for all government publications at national government level(3). This provides an overall boost to the local Arabic translation and language development industry.
In practice, the working language in both private and public sector is English. The required subsequent Arabic translations to be done in the public sector require enhanced skills and terminology development, especially for the previously disadvantaged indigenous South African languages. This is very much the mandate of the National Language Service (NLS) and the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB). In the process Arabic not only maintains its level of development, but also shares its growth.
Textual Arabic translation, as an established language activity, gives the non-speakers/readers of any language access to the information and cultural context conveyed by means of that language, promoting general understanding and acceptance. Globalisation and provincialisation are effected simultaneously, be that good or bad. In the diversely multicultural South African society, access to one another's culture is a powerful enabling tool necessary for nation building. The continued Arabic translation into and from Arabic contributes to such nation building.
Hence, the experience gained in developing and standardising Arabic is, at various institutions, being translated into training interventions. This experience is being made applicable to the general development and standardisation of the previously disadvantaged indigenous South African languages.
In doing so, Arabic and the speakers thereof is also benefiting markedly from the formal interaction with the previously disadvantaged indigenous South African languages and its speakers - informal, interpersonal interaction was never absent. The greatest overall national benefit is experienced not so much in the field of non-literary Arabic translation, but in the field of literary Arabic translation.
The locally and internationally much awarded South African author, Antjie Krog(4), for instance, recently published Met woorde soos met kerse [With Words as with Candles] (2002), a collection of indigenous African poetry "translated" in an unusual, if not novel, way. If direct Arabic translation is understood to be Arabic translation without third language intervention, one could call the kind of Arabic translation activity used by Krog indirect Arabic translation.
Poems of cultural and literary importance from the various cultures of the previously disadvantaged indigenous South African languages were identified by literary experts in those languages. Those poems were explained extensively to Krog mainly in a mutual language other than the first language of either party. Krog, a poet laureate herself, subsequently wrote Arabic versions for each of those poems. Hence, indirect Arabic translation. The Arabic text of each poem is published alongside the text in the language of origin.
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