Arabic

A-1 (F, 3:30pm-4:15pm) - All Levels
The Challenge of Decoding, Encoding, and Understanding the Message: A National Security Challenge
Shuckran Kamal (Vienna, Virginia), senior Arabic translator, Office of Language Services, U.S. Department of State

The challenge our leaders are facing in their efforts to safeguard our nation and its security is multi-dimensional. The services provided by bilingual English-Arabic speakers (native speakers of Arabic and native speakers of English) to assist in that task are also multi-dimensional. Regrettably, the scope, variety, and multiple proficiency levels of those who provide these services are not universally well understood or appreciated. This presentation will attempt to focus on current observed deficiencies among native speakers of Arabic and native speakers of English who relay to our leaders in English a variety of different messages in Arabic. It will also attempt to propose short-term, as well as long-term, remedies to correct those deficiencies.

NEW A-2 (S, 10:15am-11:45am) - ALL
Part I—How Do I Learn to Translate Arabic?
Jackie Murgida (Alexandria, Virginia), director, Cross-Language Processes Division, JTG, Inc.

This presentation will address the hurdles faced by people who need training in translation between Arabic and English in the U.S. The current situation is dire, with no regularly offered academic courses and few workshops or summer courses available. Aspiring translators have to seek out mentors, on-the-job training, or overseas courses. We will ask the audience to contribute ideas on how to self-train and what an ideal Arabic<>English translation curriculum would include.

Part II—The Current State of Arab Dictionaries: Great Riches Amidst Poverty
Ronald Wolfe (Deale, Maryland), director, Concepts and Strategies Division, JTG, Inc.

The Arabic>English translator is faced with bookshelves full of "dictionaries" that may have to be purchased if he or she is considering making a career in this field. What should an aspiring translator be looking for in an Arabic dictionary? What are the essential titles that are "must haves" for every translator? This session will address these questions and others related to becoming a professional Arabic translator.

Part III—Software Translation of Arabic Text
Tim Gregory (Alexandria, Virginia), Arabic<>English translator, Titan Systems

This presentation will evaluate how DéjàVu, SDLX, Trados, and Wordfast handle Arabic text from Microsoft word documents. The speaker will give an overview of the user experience from installation through database configuration and first use. This presentation is based on the speaker's article posted at www.tarjema.com/aratmsw.html. Live product demos will be added if time allows.