RIYADH: The International Translation Forum is taking place in Riyadh this week, highlighting the role of translation in bringing people closer and building solid foundations for civilized societies.
Organized by the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission, the forum — which boasts the theme “From Saudi Arabia, We Translate the Future” — concludes on Nov. 8 at the King Fahd Cultural Center.
Hailah Alkhalaf, the general manager of translation at the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission, said: “We believe … that translation is not merely word-for-word equivalence. It’s not just translating a text from one language to another. When we translate, we translate a whole culture, whether it’s our own or others.
“It’s essential that we focus on human connection: that is why this year we hosted a gala dinner with the Culinary Commission in the Ministry of Culture. Also, in the final ceremony, there’s going to be a collaboration with the Music Commission. All of this is what translation is all about: human connection.”
The forum features translators, experts, academics, and students from all over the Kingdom. They are hosting panel sessions and offering workshops related to the subject of the future of translation and its technical and practical applications in Saudi Arabia.
