1. Introduction

JTA is the first Jordanian national professional association of translators and interpreters. It was established in November 1993 in Amman (Its main office is now in Irbid). Up until that time there was no single national professional association, although there were several public and private professional bodies. JTA plans to have branches in the main cities of Jordan (i.e. Amman, Zerka, Kerak, and Al-Sult, among others). The affairs of JTA are controlled by its Administrative Board subject to its statute and any resolution passed by the Association at its General Annual Meeting. The JTA was admitted to the membership of the Arab Translators Federation in June 2001 and to the membership of FIT (the International Federation of Translators) in April 1998. Fifteen members, out of its eighteen founding members, were university professors whose specialization is in Linguistics and/or Translation. Currently, JTA has more than six hundred full-members, thirty-five associate members and twenty five honorary members. The Association is a non-profit organization and has no political, regional, sectarian or tribal objectives.

The major objective of the association is the promotion of translation, Arabicization, and Arabic translation theories all over the world. Towards this end JTA has published academic and cultural books on translation such as ‘Alam al-tarjamah (in Arabic), Issues in Translation (in English), Stories from World Literature (in Arabic), altarjama fi Khidmat al hadhara (in Arabic), Studies in Translation (in English, Arabic and French), which is a refereed research journal to be the official vehicle of JTA. The Journal has editorial and advisory boards including distinguished scholars from all over the world. The journal brings contributions from the international community of translation and interpretation, with a focus on Arabic language.

1.1. The Association aims at the following:

1. to promote the importance and activate the practice of translation in Jordan from various languages into Arabic and vice–versa, so as to contribute to the development of the cultural movement on a national, Pan-Arab, and international basis;

2. to elevate the quality standards of translation and interpretation in Jordan by framing and standardizing quality, and developing translators’ and interpreters’ professional efficiency;

3. to exchange relevant translation and interpretation expertise and information, and to maintain close relations between members of the Association themselves on the one hand and between the Association and other similar associations on the other;

4. to co-ordinate with the competent bodies to guarantee the professional rights of translators and interpreters;

5. to train and prepare accredited translators and interpreters; and

6. to provide official and non-official institutions with working expertise and counsel.

1.2. The Association operates to maintain its purposes by delivering lectures and holding seminars and conferences, monitoring educational programmes, encouraging educational institutions, and providing public libraries and information centers with data about translation and translated works.

JTA has contacted individuals and institutions and formed committees to achieve the main goals of the Association; it has approached many governmental bodies (Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Information, Universities etc.) as well as diplomatic corps to brief them on the activities of the Association and its role in promoting translation and interpretation in the country, it has obtained some subsidies for publishing the translated works of its members and it is represented at international forums.

The following persons were the founding members of the Association:

1. Mr. Hasan Said Al-Karmi

2. Prof. Dr. Mohammad K. R. Al-^cAsali

3. Mr. Sudqi A. A. Hattab

4. Mr. Zuhair M. S. Al-Karmi

5. Prof. Dr. Mahmoud A. I. Saif

6. Prof. Dr. Fawwaz A. A. Touqan

7. Prof. Mohammad A. Farghal

8. Prof. ^cAbdullah T. Shunnaq

9. Dr. Mohammad A. T. Saraireh

10.Dr. Mufeed F. H. Al-Hawamdeh

11.Prof. Dr. ^cAdel A. M. Jarrar

12.Prof. Dr. Ahmed S. A. Sheikh As-Sarujiyyah

13.Prof. Dr. Akram M. Ad-Dajani

14.Prof. ^cAli H. Hajjaj

15.Mr. ^cAmer O. M. As-Smadi

16.Prof. Dr. Mohammad A. Al-Khuli

17.Dr. Suleiman A. M. Al-^cAbbas

18.Prof. Dr. Nayef M. Kharma

2. Conferences and Seminars

JTA has held many translation conferences, seminars and events below are some of these activities:

2.1. Seminar entitled: “Translation: an Opening on the World” (3 May 2000)

Through cooperation with Zarqa University (ZU), The Jordanian Translators’ Association (JTA) held a 2-day Conference on “Translation: an Opening on the World” (3 and 4 May, 2000). The Conference was opened by The Secretary General of The Higher Council for Science and Technology, Dr. Monther Al-Masri who stressed the significance of translation in developing languages and bridging gaps between cultures of different nations.

On her behalf, the Acting President of the University of ZU, Prof. Shadia Al-Tell emphasized the importance of translation in developing the Islamic-Arabic civilization. The JTA’s President, Dr. Abdullah Shunnaq addressed the attendants saying that translation has become an indispensable field taught at the universities and that it has an international federation which looks after international translation issues. He also briefed the audience about the Association.

2.2. Seminar entitled: The First International Conference on Translation entitled: “Arab Modern Dictionary between Form and Content”. (19 & 20 May 2001)

This specialized seminar was held through cooperation with Atlas for Translation Studies and Research at The Royal Cultural Centre in Amman on 19 and 20 May 2001. More than 30 participants from Jordan, the Arab World, and the West contributed positively in their research and articles. The researchers recommended that the concerned Arab authorities should promote translation in general and the industries of terminology and lexicology in particular.

2.3. Seminar entitled: Translation at the Service of Civilization (15 June 2002)

This seminar was held by the Jordanian Translators’ Association (JTA) on the occasion of announcing Amman as the capital of the Arab Culture at Al-Hussein Cultural Centre in Amman. It was opened by Mr. Abdel Salam Al-Tarawneh, the representative of the Minister of Culture, H.E. Haider Mahmoud. Mr. Al-Tarawneh stressed the importance of translation in the development of Arab Culture in the past and the role that it could play in promoting culture in the future. He commended the efforts exerted by JTA in the developing and promoting the translation and Arabicization movement in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. He also confirmed the Ministry of Culture’s awareness of the role shouldered by JTA and pointed out to the interest and keenness of the Ministry in supporting this national association.

The President of JTA, Dr. Abdullah Shunnaq addressed the attendants saying that holding this Seminar comes within the world’s interest in the translation movement and that the translation role in enriching cultures is indispensable. He also briefed the attendants about JTA’s recent activities.

The participants in this seminar recommended the followings:

1. calling upon public and private institutions in Jordan and The Arab World to give interest to translation as it is the cultural bridge between the Arab nation and the other nations and peoples of the world;

2. giving interest to the publications of translation of JTA and calling upon concerned bodies in Jordan such as the ministries of Culture, Higher Education & Scientific Research, Arabic Language Academy, among others to give interest to JTA’s publications and support these publications financially and morally to assist JTA in carrying out its duties in the future;

3. calling on JTA to strengthen its relations with other similar societies and the Arab Translators’ Union in Beirut through holding seminars, conferences and carrying out cultural activities;

4. putting a translation plan about Jordan translation movement which completes the National Plan put by The Arab Organization for Education, Cultures and Sciences of 1995; and

5. honouring Jordanian pioneering translators for their great efforts they exerted in the field of translation and culture.

2.4. Seminar entitled: Translation Challenges in the Third Millennium (May 2007)

The Jordanian Translators’ Association (JTA) through collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the Jordan University for Science and Technology (JUST) held a symposium entitled “Translation Challenges in the Third Millennium” on 21 May 2007 at JUST. Distinguished Arab professors and researchers from Syria, Algeria, Tunisia, Iraq, Kuwait, and Jordan presented solid research papers on different translation topics in this symposium.

The symposium was opened by the Minister of Culture Prof. Adel Twaisi. The attendants included Prof. Wajih Owias, President of JUST, and many of its faculty members, JTA’s members, and tens of students and other people interested in translation. The Minister praised the Association for its interest in holding seminars and publishing works on translation.

Prof. Abdullah Shunnaq, JTA’s President, also delivered a speech in which he welcomed all the researchers and the attendants and urged for more research on translation.

In its final session, the symposium recommended the following:

1. urging the cultural institutions and other bodies concerned with translation affairs to support JTA to enable it to continue its academic and cultural march to promote translation movement in Jordan and abroad;

2. considering translation as a national priority in the fields of science, literature and ideology;

3. appealing to the Arab League to promote translation movement in all Arab countries and to value the efforts of ALECSO in updating the Pan-Arab Translation Plan which aims at enhancing the efforts of translation institutions and translators;

4. completing legislations and regulations that show the translator’s rights and tasks, enhance his/ her role and protect his/her rights;

5. calling on the Arab universities to develop field and theoretical research on Translation and to include language computer processing and machine translation courses in the teaching plans of Translation Departments;

6. enhancing relations between translation institutions and institutes in the Arab World and their counterparts inside Arab countries and abroad such as the Arab Translators’ Union, the Arab Translation Organization and The International Translators’ Federation (FIT); and

7. calling JTA to hold more conferences, symposia and gatherings on translation and to publish more works in this field.

2.5. Symposium entitled: Translation and Culture (2007)

The Jordanian Translators’ Association and the Jordanian Writers’ Associations organized this symposium within the celebration of Irbid: The City of Jordan’s Culture for 2007. The participants recommended the followings:

1. holding more conferences and seminars on difficulties of translating cultural texts such as those of the Holy Qur’an and literary masterpieces;

2. requesting The Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Higher Education and the like to promote the translation movement in Jordan through funding translation works by The Jordanian Translators’ Association and The Jordanian Writers’ Association and also through celebrating Jordanian figures of translation and writing;

3. addressing the private sector in Jordan to establish a fund to finance distinguished works on translation and allocate prizes for well-known translators;

4. appealing to Yarmouk University to establish a Translation Department to award BA, MA, and PhD degrees in Translation Studies to satisfy the translation movement in the Arab world with qualified translators; and

5. teaching staff members should at least include one translated work into Arabic within their publications submitted for academic promotions.

2.6. Seminar on: “Strategies of Teaching Translation”

15 November 2009

The Jordanian Translators’ Association (JTA) and the Department of Translation at Yarmouk University held a seminar entitled "Strategies of Teaching Translation" on 15^thNovember at Yarmouk University. Scholars from Jordanian universities gathered and presented papers on the following topics: Reading Comprehension Strategies for Translation; Text Analysis in Translator Training; Teacher's Strategies in a Translation Class; The Role of Theory in Teaching Translation; and Common Ground on Teaching Translation. Papers were presented in English and Arabic. The seminar was opened by the University President and attended by academic staff members, scholars interested in translation, and postgraduate and undergraduate students of Translation, Arabic and English Departments.

2.7. 1st Jordan International Conference on Translation (JICOT 1) 2009: Translation Quality

28-30July 2009

Held at The Royal Hotel-Amman & Yarmouk University, Jordan

The Jordan International Conference on Translation (JICOT I) is intended to be a regular conference. It was held for the first time in 2009, the initiative of the Jordanian Translators' Association (JTA), and collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Yarmouk University and ASBAT (a private translation agency) with the awareness that translation is a communication activity aims to develop one's country. The Conference aims to exchange ideas, knowledge and experience, and to encourage cooperation among scholars, translators, educators and students alike. The Conference also aims to present theories and strategies in translation in order to enhance translation quality as a whole. This Conference might be the first of its kind to be held in the Arab world. It came to satisfy the increased need for it due to the increase in the translation movement in the Arab World in general and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in particular. This movement is represented in establishing translation departments, founding translation associations and organizations, translating works from other languages into Arabic and vice versa.

The Conference’s Topics:

The topics included the followings: The quality of specialized translation, the quality of literary translation, the quality of religious translation, the quality of terms and dictionaries, the quality of simultaneous interpreting, the quality of media and documentaries translation, the quality of machine translation, qualifying and training interpreters, Arab translation and globalization, Accrediting translation programmes and translation institutions, translation between planning and chaos, translation and legislation, translation quality and awarding translation prizes, among others. The languages of the Conference were Arabic, English and French.

Yarmouk University – Irbid hosted the conference in its third day (30 July 2009). The sessions of the first two days (28-29 July 2013) were held at the Royal Hotel in Amman. During the last session of the Conference, the participants of 15 Arab and non-Arab countries expressed their thanks to the Jordanian Translators’ Association, Yarmouk University, and the other organizations who participated in this Conference and recommended the followings:

1. considering JTA as the main umbrella taking care of the translation activities in Jordan and as it is the first academic and cultural organization in Jordan which promotes translation theoretically and practically in Jordan and which represents Jordan in Arab and international organizations;

2. forming a mini-committee of the following: Prof. Abdullah Shunnaq (Jordan),Prof. Basil Hatim (UK), Prof. Inaam Bioud (Algeria), and Prof. Omar Atari (Oman) to develop certain criteria for promoting translation quality;

3. holding translation seminars and conferences specialized in theoretical and practical issues of translation that interest translation and translators;

4. contacting The Arab Higher Institute for Translation in Algeria, The Arab Translators Association in Beirut, The Arab Translation Organization, and other specialized bodies inside and outside the Arab World;

5. Holding JICOT regularly through coordination with public and private sectors with emphasis on the contribution of students and young researchers;

6. publishing the papers of the Conference in JTA’s journal (Studies in Translation) after refereeing them;

7. establishing a new translation journal that publishes research papers by translation postgraduate students and assistant professors. The Journal should be refereed by distinguished professors in the field of translation; and

8. paying registration fees in the coming translation conferences to support such fruitful academic events.

2.8. 2nd Jordan International Conference on Translation (JICOT 2) 2010: Translation: Science, Art, or Skill? 15-18 November, 2010

Petra University, Jordan

Introduction: The 2nd JICOT was held at Petra University in Amman, Jordan from 16-18 November 2010. Petra University was chosen to be the host, together with JTA and the Ministry of Culture under the patronage of Professor Adnan Badran, Jordanian Senator, President of Petra University, and Honorary president of JTA.

Objectives

The aim of JICOT2 was to bring together theoreticians and educators from areas of translation and interpreting in order to exchange ideas on issues of interest to the attendees. Distinguishing speakers from the Arab World and outside explored the theoretical and practical issues of the Conference.

The title of the Conference–Translation: Science, Art, or Skill? expresses the organizers intent to answer the question whether the translation of Arabic to other languages is a science, skill, art or all of them. This often constitutes part of the argument as to whether translation can be taught or not.

Theorists of translation, linguists, professors and students of translation, lexicographers, editors, educators, among others attended the conference.

Themes: Scientific vs. Literary translation; Linguistics and Translation; Translation Theories; Translation: practical aspects; Technical Translation; and Translation and Interpreting.

Speakers: six distinguished guest speakers were invited from outside Jordan.

Some remarks are provided below by some contributors from outside Jordan:

Prof. Mohammed Farghal of Kuwait University says: "It was a great, well-organized conference. It should be done every year. This will add to the reputation and professionalism of the Jordanian Translators' Association as well as Petra University. The facilities were excellent and the program was very clear".

Prof. Inaam Bioud, Director of The Arab Higher Institute for Translation in Algeria said: "Congratulations on the excellent organization of the Conference". The facilities are impressive ".

Prof. Myriam Salama-Carr of Salford University (UK) commented: "The Conference was well organized and many thanks are due to the organizers and the host institution for the way they looked after the participants and for their warm welcome".

Dr. Khadija Merrakichi of Surrey University (UK) said: "Good organization, warm welcome and very friendly hosts. Program was well organized ".

Dr. Aitsiselmi of London Polytechnic University (UK) commented: Excellent organization. The equipment was impressive. I appreciated having the possibility to use computer in the library. The breaks were well organized and the lunches were excellent. The Conference was very well organized and the organizers must be congratulated for a job very well done. The students belonging to the organization were very helpful.

A few critical remarks were also offered and are noted below.

- The opening session should have been translated into English and French;

- It is always difficult to make a choice when there are parallel sessions;

- The absence of some participants changed the schedule and sometimes we wanted to attend a presentation but another speaker was talking instead; and

- The Hall needed better ventilation.

2.9. 3rd Jordan International Conference on Translation (JICOT 3) 2015.

"Translation across Time and Space" (April 29, 2015)

In this Conference more than 20 speakers representing 18 universities from 10 countries shared knowledge about translation, culture and alike activities that play an important role in the translation and cultural growth of Jordan and other Arab countries. The conference played a significant role in serving students, professors and experts to enhance their expertise through discussions on diverse subjects linked to Translation and Culture Across Time and Space. It was a successful Conference. The participants and the attendees recommend more of JICOT’s conferences.

2.10. The Jordanian Translators’ Day/Week

JTA has initiated the Jordanian Translation Week/ Day to be held periodically in different parts of Jordan. So far, it has held about ten translational events in Amman and Irbid on these occasions. The Jordanian Translators’ Week held at Yarmouk University (7-11 July 2012) is a representative one.

The Minister of Culture’s representative Mr. Ali Oudeh (The Director of Culture in Irbid) opened This Jordanian Translators’ Week, which was organized by JTA. In the opening speech, Mr. Oudeh stressed the importance of the translation movement in Arab history and pointed out the necessity of supporting the Jordanian translation movement in Jordan in general and the efforts and activities of the JTA in particular. For his part, JTA’s President, Prof. Abdullah Shunnaq, referred to the absence of official support for the translation movement in the country and stated that there is a lack of awareness of this academic and cultural activity.

The week’s activities were attended by a good number of professors and students from Yarmouk University and other Jordanian universities and institutions.

4. News & Reports

4.1. Jordan News Agency (Petra): On 29/09/2012

The Translation Day celebrates Translation as a Means of Communication among Cultures

Jordan News Agency reported that the World celebrates the Translation Day on 30^th September of each year. On this occasion, Taiseer al-Najjar of Petra interviewed Prof. Abdullah Shunnaq, President of the Jordanian Translators’ Association (JTA), who said that the great achievements of the modern world’s civilization made translation an indispensable element in enhancing international relations. He added that it is difficult for the modern individual to manage his/her life without knowing at least one foreign language. In fact, such knowledge is indispensable. Prof. Shunnaq went on to say that to activate the translation movement in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, JTA, through cooperation with many public and private organizations inside Jordan, has so far launched many translation activities all over the Kingdom including conferences, seminars, publications and training courses, among others. The cooperation with other organizations has extended outside Jordan to reach other Arab and international organizations such as The Arab Translation Organization and the Arab Translators’ Association in Beirut; King Fahd Higher School for Translation in Tangier and The International Federation of Translators (FIT), among others. He pointed out that to face translation challenges in Jordan, JTA was established in 1993, and The Jordan League for Translators and Applied Linguists was established in 2007. Other bodies concerned in translation include among others: The Arabic Language Academy, public and private universities, Ministries of Education and Higher Education, The Directorate of Publications, The Royal Scientific Society and translation offices, among. On a different point, the novelist Yahya Al-Qaisi, former Director of Translation at The Ministry of Culture pointed out that translation in the Arab world should be organized under the umbrella of one organization and there should be more interest in evaluation and assessment of translation. He added that public and private sectors should pay more attention to this cultural process that bridges the cultural and linguistic gaps among nations.

The International Federation for Translators includes 107 translation societies and organization from all over the world representing more than 60,000 translators. JTA is an active member in this Federation.

4.2. Daily Star: Beirut

By Therese Sfeir

On September 26, 2005

JTA Participates in the Arab Thought Foundation’s Conference in Beirut

Conference promotes cooperation in translation

Gathering identifies ways to improve sector

BEIRUT: In an effort to promote cooperation in the translation sector between Arab and foreign countries, the Arab Thought Foundation, in cooperation with several governmental and civil translation associations, organized the Arab Gathering for Translation at the Phoenicia Intercontinental Hotel in Beirut.

Participants at the gathering included a delegation from the World Bank, the Arab Translators' Union, the Lebanese Publishers' Union, the Gulf Research Center, the Department of Translation and Interpretation of the Holy Spirit University, Saint Joseph University's School of Translation, The Jordanian Translators’ Association (JTA), as well as other Arab groups and organizations.

The gathering's first and second sessions focused on translation strategies in the Arab world and the means to develop the capabilities of Arab translators.

Dr. Mohammad Didawi, the president of the Arab Translation department at the United Nations, stressed the need to establish a program for teaching translation and to set up unified dictionaries, particularly in the fields of technical and specialized translation.

The Dean of the Faculty of Translation and Interpretation at The Holy Spirit University, Dr. Tanios Njeim, talked about the role of academic programs in developing the capabilities of the Arab translator.

In an interview with The Daily Star, Njeim emphasized the need to adopt technologies to enhance translation works and stressed the role of the private sector in this initiative.

The director of the Translation School at Saint Joseph University, Dr. Henry Ouais, focused on the need to grant Arab translators their rights and professionalizes the translation sector.

A Chinese delegation of Arabists, specialized in translation from Arabic into Chinese, was also among the participants at the gathering.

Speaking to The Daily Star, Dr. Wang Youyong, a professor and Vice-Dean at the College of Eastern Languages and Literatures at Shanghai International Studies University, said the Chinese government offers $375,000 every three years to support Arabic translation.

But Youyong pointed out the difficulty of publishing translated Arabic books in China due to lack of understanding of Arab culture among Chinese. "The Chinese get informed of the Arab world through Western media.”

The gathering included sessions relevant to translation issues, such as translation between China and the Arabs, methods to safeguard translated works, and the impact of translation on cultural interaction.

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4.3. Alra’i Daily: Amman

Alra’i Daily: Yarmouk University Hosts the Concluding Day of JICOT 2009

The Jordan International Conference on Translation-2009 held its 3^rd day final sessions at Yarmouk University and the activities were opened by the President of the University who stressed the importance of translation and praised the role of The Translation Department at Yarmouk which is the first of its kind at Jordanian public universities. The first two days’ sessions were held at The Royal Hotel in Amman.

In an interview with Alra’i Daily Newspaper, Prof. Abdullah Shunnaq, President of JTA and Chairman of the Translation Department at Yarmouk said the participants in the Conference praised the role of JTA in organizing conferences and seminars. They also thanked Yarmouk University for hosting the final sessions of the Conference and recommended that such activities be repeated here in Jordan in the coming years.

5. JTA Celebrates Translation Day

5.1. Translation Day 1997

The Jordanian Translators’ Association (JTA) through cooperation with The Ministry of Culture celebrated The Translation Day of 1997 on 30^th September 1997. At the opening session, the Ministry of Culture’s Secretary General Mr. Mahmoud Al-Tell, delivered an address on behalf of the Minister of Culture, Qasim Abu ‘Ain, in which he stressed the importance of JTA in promoting translation activities in Jordan and abroad. Mr. Al-Tell added that the Ministry would support JTA in the coming years to assist it in carrying out its projects and he praised the Association as a distinguished one in the country.

The JTA’s president Dr. Shunnaq valued the assistance given by the Ministry to the Association and informed the audience that JTA had been accepted as a full member of The International Federation of Translators and that its members totaled 135.

The President of Yarmouk University and the Honorary President of JTA Prof. Marwan Kamal said that what he knew about the members of the Association is that they are serious and devoted to the principles of JTA. Prof. Kamal stressed that the profession of translation is great and difficult but it would be easier if qualified researchers and translators were available.

Later, a seminar entitled “Translation: Problems and Solutions” was held. It was chaired by Mr. Mahmoud Al-Shereef (Ad-Dustour Daily’s Editor-in-Chief). Professor Issam Al-Mousa, Dr. Mohammed Farghal, Dr. Mufeed Al-Hawamdeh, Mr. Zuhair Al-Karmi, Mr. SudqiHattab, and Dr. Omar Atari presented their papers on the translation problems and their solutions.

The participants agreed that literal translation causes many problems in translation.

5.2. Translation Day 1999

Professor Marwan Kamal, Secretary General of the Arab Universities Union and the Honorary President of the Jordanian Translators’ Association (JTA) inaugurated JTA’s celebration of the Translation Day, 1999 at the Cultural Centre in Amman on 7/10/1999. In his opening address, Prof. Kamal said that the World has witnessed an explosion of information in the last few years. He also stressed the importance of translation in today’s world as a means of scientific and cultural exchange among nations. He added: “We should encourage translation between Arabic and other languages so as not to be isolated from other nations’ cultures and sciences.” Prof. Kamal also urged Arab countries to benefit from computer assisted translation (CAT) and machine translation.

For his part, Dr. Abdullah Shunnaq, President of the Jordanian Translators’ Association (JTA) addressed the audience saying: “to exchange sciences and arts among nations, we should resort to translation and establish specialized scientific centers to follow up translation issues such as training translators to qualify them to be professionals in all fields. In his speech, Dr. Shunnaq briefed the audience on JTA’s activities.

After the opening session, a seminar on The Translation Issues chaired by Mr. Zuhair Al-Karmi was held. Dr. Suleiman Abbas, Dr. Lutfi AbulHaija, Dr. Mohammad Farghal, and Dr. Fawwaz Abdel Haq presented their research papers at the seminar which were followed by comments, remarks and questions.

5.3. Translation Day 2000

The Jordanian Translators’ Association (JTA) Celebrates the Translation Day at the Jordan Arabic Language Academy in Amman

Dr. Salah Jarrar, Under-secretary to the Ministry of Culture and the representative of The Minister of Culture, Mahmoud Al-Kayid, opened the activities of the Translation Day for 2000 at the Jordan Arabic Language Academy in Amman in which it awarded its honorary memberships to some prominent Jordanian academic and cultural figures. It also held a seminar entitled “Difficulties of Arabicizing Terms”.

In his speech, Dr. Jarrar described translation as a means of knowing the thoughts of other nations and how they perceive us. He said that translating from Arabic into other languages is the channel which passes our voices to other nations. He added that the Ministry of Culture is aware of the importance of translation and supports its activities.

For his part, Professor Marwan Kamal, the Secretary General of the Arab Universities’ Union and the Honorary President of JTA, delivered a speech addressing the members of JTA saying: “What you shoulder is a big and significant job.” He referred to the golden age of Arab translation and its role in transferring thoughts from other nations to the Arab nation and from the Arabs to others.

In his address, Dr. Shunnaq, the President of JTA, referred to the role of translation in enriching the cultures of nations and he valued the role of the Ministry of Culture in supporting JTA’s activities. He also referred to the cooperation between JTA and the universities of Yarmouk, Irbid, Zarqa and the Jordan Arabic Academy in Amman.

Following these addresses, Prof. Kamal distributed the honorary membership’s certificates to some academic and cultural figures who had served the translation movement in Jordan. Among them were: Mr. Mahmoud Alshareef (former Minister of Information), Dr. Salah Jarrar (Ministry of Culture’s Undersecretary), Prof. Hisham Gharaibeh (Yarmouk University’s Vice-president), Prof. Abdel Kareem Khalifah (President of the Jordan Arabic Academy), Mr. Mahmoud Al-Tell, Prof. Abdul Rahman Shaheen, Prof. Ahmed Rabai’ah, Mr. Sadiq Oudeh, Prof. Abdel Majeed Ensair, and Mr. Ibraheem Jaradat.

Following this, the seminar entitled “The Problem of Scientific Terms’ Arabicization and the Role of Arabic Language Academies and Translation Associations” was held. The seminar was chaired by Prof. Khalifa who delivered a paper in which he stressed that the problem of Arabicization is not inside the Arabic language but it is inside the Arab contemporary individual. He added that the translation problem had been solved more than a thousand years ago when the Arab translators during the Abbasid period did a very good job.

The subsequent papers delivered by Prof. Hisham Ghaseeb, Dr. Fawwaz Abdel Haq, and Dr. Zuhair Al-Karmi were also very enlightening and informative.

5.4. Translation Days for 2009, 2012, 2014, and 2015

The Jordanian Translators’ Association (JTA) Celebrated the Translation Days in the above years at Yarmouk University & The Directorate of Culture in Irbid, Jordan under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Culture and Presidency of Yarmouk University. Different translation issues were raised and discussed.

6. Publications

Since its establishment in 1993, the Jordanian Translators’ Association (JTA) and some of its members have published many translated books and books on translation to satisfy some of the need of this activity to its members and audience. Below are some of these works.

1. ‘AlamAltajama (World of Translation). (1997). edited by Abdullah Shunnaq, Zuhair Al-Karmi, and Mohammed Saraireh. Amman: JTA’s publications.

2. Issues in Translation. (1998). A refereed book, edited by Abdullah Shunnaq, Cay Dollerup, and Mohammed Saraireh. Amman: JTA’s publications and Irbid National University.

3. Stories Translated from World Literature. (1999). Translated by some members of the Jordanian Translators’ Association. Amman: JTA’s publications.

4. Cultural & Information Publication. (2001). Edited by Abdullah Shunnaq. Amman: JTA’s publications.

5. Studies in Translation (a biannual refereed international research journal), editor-in-chief: Abdullah Shunnaq. Amman: JTA’s publications.

6. Love and Bread and Other Short Stories.(1994). Translated into Arabic by Abdullah Shunnaq. Irbid: Dar Al-Hilal Publications.

7. The Legal Translation at Work: Arabic-English Legal Translation: A Practical Guide. (1995) Authored by Basil Hatim, Abdullah Shunnaq and Ron Buckley. Irbid: Dar Al-Hilal Publications.

8. Language, Discourse and Translation in the West and Middle East. (1992) edited by Robert de Beaugrande, Abdullah Shunnaq and Mohamed Heliel. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamin’s Publishing Company.

9. A Sad Tune on a Spanish Fiddle. (1998). Abdullah Shunnaq. Irbid: Dar Al-Hilal for Translation and Publications.

10.When the Drums Beat. (1998). Abdullah Shunnaq and Mohammmed Farghal. Irbid: Dar Al-Hilal Publications.

11.Semantics and Translation. (1999.) Edited by Abdullah Shunnaq. Delhi: Bahri Publications.

12.For Your Eyes the Moon Smiles. (1999).Abdullah Shunnaq and Ahmed Taha.

13.Applied Translation. (1999).Yahya Abu Risha. Irbid: Dar Al-Hilal Publications.

14.Mu’jam al’baraat al-reefiyya fi shamaal al-‘urdun (The Dictionary of Rural Terms in North Jordan).(2000). Abdullah Shunnaq and Fayiz AbulKas. Irbid: Yarmouk University.

15.Short Story in the U.A.E. (2000). Mohammed Dawood Tahboob. The United Arab Emirates: Ministry of Information.

16.On The Soul. (2001). Yahya Abu Risha. Irbid: Dar Al-Hilal Publications.

17.Jordanian Short Stories. (2002). Abdullah Shunnaq. Irbid: Dar Al-Hilal Publications.

18.Gender and Democratization in the Arab Region. (2004). Abdullah Shunnaq. Amman: The Jordan Institute of Diplomacy.

19.Alija Izetbegovic: Biography and Inescapable Questions. (2004).Abdullah Shunnaq & Rami Jaradat. Damascus: Dar AL-Fikr.

20.Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in the Arab Region: Successes and Challenges. (2004). Abdullah Shunnaq. Amman: The Jordan Institute of Diplomacy.

21.Towards a Better Understanding of the Qur’anic Text: a discourse -based approach. (2007). Abdullah Shakir. Irbid: Hamada Establishment.

22.Translation with reference to English and Arabic: A Practical Guide. (2011). Mohammed Farghal and Abdullah Shunnaq. Irbid: Dar Al-Hilal for Translation.

23.Papers and Studies in Arabic Translation. (2012). Abdullah Shunnaq. Irbid: Yarmouk University.

24.Advanced Issues in Arabic-English Translation Studies (2012). Mohammed Farghal. Kuwait: Kuwait University.

25.French Scientific Cultural Diplomacy. Abdullah Shunnaq. Amman: Dar Ward Al”urduniyyah.

7. JTA’s Other Issues

7.1. Services provided by JTA

JTA provides the following services among others:

1. Translation and Interpreting for conferences and seminars at all levels;

2. Consultations on translation for those bodies and organizations who seek them;

3. Language editing for translated works from English into other languages and vice versa; and

4. Delivering lectures to all types of educational institutions.

7.2. Members from Arab countries

To achieve its goals in promoting translation business in the Arab World and to exchange experiences and knowledge related to translation and translators in the Arab countries and in accordance to article (8-a) of its Statute, the Association has accepted members from Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Palestine and Morocco.

7.3. JTA and The International Federation of Translators (FIT)

JTA was accepted as a full member of FIT in its meeting held in Geneva on 25-26 April 1998 and in accordance to FIT’s Statute No. (13). Its address is: FIT’s address on the World Wide Web: http://www.ac.be/atim/fit

7.4. Members of JTA

As already stated, there are three categories of JTA membership: Full Members (who are the founding members and the members who meet the membership’s conditions); Honorary Members (The Administrative Board have the right to grant the title of Honorary Member to persons in recognition of their distinguished services to the Association); and Associate Members (The Administrative Board shall have the right to approve of Associate membership conditions for the duration deemed plausible by the Board).

Up to 15 September 2013, the sum of Full Members of JTA totaled 535, that of Associate Members totaled 15 and the number of Honorary Members was 12 and the Founding members 18 who are considered members of the Congress ex officio.

7.5. Relations and Cooperation with Others

Since its foundation, JTA has cooperated in many academic and cultural activities with many academic and cultural bodies inside Jordan and outside it. As suggested in the previous report, inside Jordan, activities have been carried out by JTA and through cooperation with the following bodies: Yarmouk University, Jordan University for Science and Technology, Zerqa Private University, Irbid National University, Petra University, The Ministry of Culture, The Arabic Language Academy, and Atlas for Studies and Research. Outside Jordan, JTA has also extended its cooperation with The Arab Translators’ Federation in Beirut, The Arab Translation Organization in Beirut, and The Higher Arab Institute for Translation in Algeria, Mu’askar University in Algeria, and The International Federation for Translation (FIT).

Conclusion:

Having introduced JTA and its activities, on can easily deduce from the above discussion and survey that translation in Jordan still struggles a lot and that JTA is a non-profit organization struggling hard in difficult conditions to promote the translation and Arabicization movement in this Arab country for the sake of Arabic cultural and academic movement. This shows the lack of attention and support from public and private sectors in Jordan. However, the researcher is optimistic about the future of JTA in particular and that of translation movement in general.

The End