EXPERT TALK
By rya Ayswa hy Murt
Mounir Ouanaimi, Director at the new Translation and Interpretation Institute, talks about how their students will go on to play a subtle but pivotal role in bringing Qatar to the world.
Finding the right words Every
language holds the key to the collective knowledge and experiences of human civilizations through the course of history. With every language that dies – silent and unmourned –we are losing a valuable piece of the grand human puzzle. Ouanaimi says,“Advanced scientific and technological progress of the level we have achieved today wouldn’t have been possible without the sharing of knowledge through translation. Arab thought and civilization was significantly enhanced
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by the process of importing knowledge from other civilizations. In turn, through the translation of chef-d’oeuvres of major Arab thinkers, a more enhanced knowledge was imparted with the world. Today, even with English gaining a lot of territory, it is obvious that other languages are not receding but are in fact on the rise and the intersections of these languages are becoming increasingly significant. As languages expand, they don’t annul each other necessarily, they mostly co-exist making the translation and interpreting enterprise even more important.”
The bigger picture The first batch of MATS (Master in Translation Studies) students at the institute is yet to graduate (classes only started in September last year)
but T II, as an idea, had been in the pipeline for a while. “With a strong and visionary mandate from HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, our executive director, Dr. Amal Al-Malki,conceptualized and implemented the elements of a leading institution in translation and interpreting with the ability to make significant contributions to Qatar’s transition to the knowledge-based economy.” Translators will help tell the story of Qatar and the Arab and Muslim worldsand make important contributions to human knowledge. Ouanaimi also points out the amazing international role that Qatar is playing, primarily in conflict resolution. “Establishing mediation as a cornerstone of its foreign policy, Qatar has provided a platform for dialogue and conflict resolution and has been impressively successful at that. Invariably, translators play a key role in these forums,” says Ouanaimi, elaborating on how institutes like T II will be germane to the future of Qatar’s aspirations.
Leading in academics, research and service The institute, as new as it is, is already establishing itself internationally. T II has signed various memoranda of understanding, notably with Paris-3 Sorbonne Nouvelle’s ESIT (L’École Supérieure d’Interprètes et de Traducteurs) and FT I (Faculty of Translation and Interpreting) of University of Geneva to ensure that T II programs meet the highest quality standards and comply with best practices in teaching and research while offering T II students the best possible academic and exchange opportunities. In addition to the two-year master’s degree programs in Translation and interpreting, T II also includes a Language Center which provides expert training in Arabic, French and Spanish with English and Mandarin Chinese to be added soon. T II’s Professional Services center also provides businesses with expert translation and interpreting services. Ouanaimi says that T II students are already working as interns at the Professional Services department and will be ready to engage the professional world at T II and beyond. “This links back to Hamad Bin Khalifa University as a research institution where teaching and research inform each other and have an immediate impact and application in the real world,” he says. Next on the institute’s To-Do list is the introduction of three more MA programs in the next two years; MA in Conference Interpreting, MA in Audiovisual Translation and MA in Sign Language Interpreting. Also, the Language Center might expand to teach languages like Urdu, Hindi, etc if the market demands it, Ouanaimi says. The instruction here follows common frameworks in place across the globe and the institute will encourage and even sponsor its students to take standardized language tests. “This will help us establish a proper measure of quality of our courses and will help certify our students so that their knowledge is validated by external organizations,” he says. Another exciting feature at the Language Center is the immersion Program. “We realize that the optimal conditions for language learning are created in the target community where the language is actually spoken. Learning a language outside this context is at best, artificial,” he says, “Which is why, after a three-week summer intensive course here at the institute, we coordinated a study-abroad program for two weeks. We have already sent a batch of students to Granada in Spain
Hamad bin Khalifa University’s Translation and Interpreting Institute has also been hosting an annual Translation Conference for the past two years in partnership with Bloomsbury Publishing. The conference aims to create a regional and international platform for research, reflection and discussion in matters related to translation and interpreting. The conference features keynote addresses, panels, workshops, and author conversations. Led by experienced professionals and educators, workshops include specializations in audiovisual, media, poetry and literary translation. This year’s conference was held in April in Hamad bin Khalifa University’s Student Center and hosted panelists from leading universities such as the University of Salamanca, Spain, University of Texas at Austin in the United States, Concordia University in Canada, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, University of Amsterdam, American University of Sharjah, and United Arab Emirates University. ”Our aim is to re-center, reconnect, and expand the field of translation beyond its traditional borders ,“ says Ouanaimi. T II organizes events all year long most of which are open to the public. T II also hosts distinguished public talks featuring international and regional speakers, author’s conversations on local and regional book releases, and technical and theoretical workshops
and Tours in France and the results have been really good,” he beams.
An appetite for translation and interpreting The current crop of students in their MA program is an eclectic mix. “We have about 17 students many of whom are already functioning in the industry. In fact we have prominent and high-profile interpreters from Al Jazeera who are learning side by side with fresh graduates, which provides an interesting dynamic.The class is also balanced in terms of gender ratio, with many students hailing from a strong liberal arts backgroundin language and cultural studies, communication, journalism, political science, etc. he points out. Prima facie, the prerequisites seem quite straightforward – mastery in English and another T II working language (mostly Arabic) in addition to other academic requirements. But it’s some of the more inherent qualities that turn out to be most important in the end. Many of those can’t be taught in the classroom. Ouanami says, “We look for people who are able to think critically, are sensitive to different cultures and are passionate about making a contribution. And most of all, a good translator / interpreter must have a command in a broad spectrum of knowledge areas; because one day he might be the voice of the president of the country, an economist another day and maybe an internet mogul the next.” That is why, he says, technology can aid but never replace women and men in this field, no matter how advanced a translation software solution may be. “Because without the human element, the interpretation might not be in context to what is being said.Translation is not always literal –it’s cultural, it’s artistic, it’s impressionistic...”
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