Abu Dhabi, February 24: Abu Dhabi’s translation project Kalima is expected to step up its activities in the first week of March.
“The KALIMA translation initiative reflects Abu Dhabi’s determination to consolidate the foundations of cultural awareness in a way that is open to the world, and which is based on respect for the achievements of other cultures” said Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH).
Sheikh Sultan made this statement in the occasion of KALIMA participation in Abu Dhabi Book Fair to kick off March 1st to 7th. He stressed that ADACH’s translation project, KALIMA, seeks to make use of that through translation, and sees it as the key to gaining access to other cultures. “It cooperates with international publishers and global projects in exchange for the expertise and development of the translation industry. In this effort that bears the UAE’s fingerprint in leading cultural initiatives, the translation projects can act as bridges of dialogue and knowledge-sharing forums with others” he said.
KALIMA has delivered its promise, he said, and “the project has been able to translate and publish more than 300 books in two years. The initial plan had aimed for the translation of 100 books per year. The publications were mainly translated directly from more than ten languages worldwide. ”
According to Sheikh Sultan, books and knowledge contribute towards inspiring the intellectual renaissance of peoples and nations, and serve to drive forward economic and cultural development. They make people’s lives richer and encourage them to engage in dialogue with others, and contribute towards bridging the cultural gaps between the continents of the world.
“At the end of 2007, as part of a series of pioneering projects from the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, launched a leading initiative in the field of translation into Arabic: the KALIMA project. Over a short period of time it succeeded in vastly increasing the number of options for readers of Arabic books. It is set to revive the golden age of translation and re-unite the efforts of the book industry in the Arab World”.
The KALIMA project has helped set up many programs and global initiatives. Several cooperative agreements in the field of translation with Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and India were signed. The books translated by KALIMA have won numerous awards, which indicate the good choices that the project is making with regard to its subject matter. It is also known for having respectable translations and quality print.
In addition to this, KALIMA’s widespread global appeal and the confidence of international publishers, symbols of thought, literature and politics in this pioneering project. It serves to provide both opportunities and access to Arab readers through Abu Dhabi’s translation project. Also, KALIMA has attracted the best Arabic translators. They have found a prominent place for themselves in the project and reliable means to promote their cultural efforts.
“KALIMA serves the general objectives of the strategy of Abu Dhabi in caring for and boosting children’s imaginations and creativity. The project’s objective also seeks to form a link between the UAE and Arab World children, and promote positive international trends. This will stimulate them to think and to be creative, through stories and books that have been translated into Arabic and are written by authors who have enriched the libraries of the world with their work” Shaikh Sultan added.
On the other hand, Dr Ali bin Tamim, Director of KALIMA, will announce the list of book titles to be translated this year and the future plan of the project in the evening of the opening day of Abu Dhabi Book Fair from Kitab Majlis which provide close interaction with world authors during the fair.
KALIMA will exhibit its 300 translated titles during the fair. Number of authors is invited to the fair to participate in panel talks and discussions.
—Agencies