Arabic is among the most difficult languages to learn today, notwithstanding that there are more than 200 million people who speak and write Arabic as their first language. But with such difficulty comes the high demand for translation. Many believe that Arabic translation is very difficult to accomplish for several reasons:

– Professionals believe the Arabic language is technically underdeveloped. This means that Arabic does not its own equivalent of words in foreign languages when it comes to polishing and development. In today’s era, there are words that are given additional meaning or phrases that are coined to describe a situation, occurrence, condition or anything else. This challenge is especially true when modern business or technology is involved in Arabic translations.

– Lack of technological advances. One reason why Arabic is not easy to translate is the lack of developments in technology. Thus, the culture of Arab has not integrated developments in technology. There is no impact of such development in its culture. Translation into Arabic becomes hard because other languages, especially, English, French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, and Chinese are rich and updated in development.

One example of this challenge for Arabic translators is translating the English words “management” and “administration”. In Arabic language, only one word is used to refer to both English words-“Idara.” Other examples are the words “compute” and “calculate,” which, although have similar meanings, have different applications depending on the purpose. In Arabic, these two words are translated into “hisaab.”

But, some translators and native speakers confess that while it is hard to translate calculate and compute in Arabic, the translators have the option of customizing terms to accurately convey the exact meaning.

– There is lack of research in Arabic language that could have helped in developing software to make translating Arabic easier. For example, today, there is no software or resource to check the correct spelling and grammar in Arabic. There are no search engines and Optical Character Reader (OCR) available for assistance. In other words, the translators are on their own in translating texts and documents. They follow their instincts because there are no standards.

Understanding the Arabic Language

Arabic is used mostly in Muslim countries. Besides the 200 million native speakers, there is an additional 20 million people who speak Arabic as their second language. It belongs to the same language family with Hebrew and Aramaic do. It is also the largest of the Semitic language.

The Arabic language has several dialects depending on which region the Arabs belong to. However, regardless of those dialects, every Arab country has a literary Arabic, which is used in Qur’an, and which is considered to be the genuine Arabic language. Most regional dialects are mutually comprehensible and the speakers acknowledge the standard form of Arabic so they all understand the local variations of Arabic.

In doing translations in Arabic, the translators need to be fluent in different variations of the language and in the foreign language to which the document or file is to be translated. Since it is clear that Arabic translation is not easy and there are no resources to take advantage of, the native speakers make the most qualified translators. People who speak Arabic as their second language may also be good as Arabic translators.

Importance of Arabic Translations

Most if not all Arab nations are rich in natural resources and economy. Many of these nations are financial and employment hubs. Doing business is the number one reason why investors flock in the Arab world. People who are looking for greener pasture may also consider the employment opportunities in these countries.

While Arabic literacy is not a requirement in employment, although it boosts the application and compensation benefits, the business sector cannot avoid the Arabic language. In order to penetrate the local market, the products and all other manuscripts, documents, texts, and descriptions should undergo Arabic translation.

Charlene Lacandazo writes for Rosetta Translation, a leading professional translation agency in London, UK. Rosetta Translation specialises in Arabic translation, as well as technical translation services worldwide.

Charlene Lacandazo writes for Rosetta Translation, a leading professional translation agency in London, UK. Rosetta Translation specialises in Arabic translation, as well as technical translation services worldwide.

Author Bio: Charlene Lacandazo writes for Rosetta Translation, a leading professional translation agency in London, UK. Rosetta Translation specialises in Arabic translation, as well as technical translation services worldwide.

Category: Writing
Keywords: Arabic translation,Arabic translations,Arabic translators,translating Arabic,translations in Arabic