anecdotes from the world of translation-1-

Posted on | November 20, 2009 | No Comments

While doing some reading for a paper on translation, especially cases when translators put themselves at risk by tackling texts that are either too vulgar or too scared to translate, I came across an interesting story of one of Arabic’s most celebrated translators. Hunayn Ibn Ishaq (full name:أبو زيد حنين بن إسحاق العبادي ‎ ’Abū Zayd Ḥunayn ibn ’Isḥāq al-‘) came from a Nestorian Christian family in Al-Hira, in the 9th century. His translation talents took him to Bagdad where he quickly became the undisputed head of translation activities at Bayt-Al-Hikma which was the world’s largest center of learning at the times and for a few centuries to follow. Ibn Ishaq was a star of translation and he apparently acted like one too. An anecdote cited by Mona Baker in Routledge’s Encyclopedia of Translation studies:

[...] Ibn Ishaq who was paid by al-Ma’mun (Abbasid Caliph 813-833)in gold, matching the weight of the books he translated. Being somewhat greedy, he wrote in large letters, on thick, heavy paper, with wide spaces between the lines (al-Difaa 1984/85: 11; al-Khury 1988:40). His greed had the unexpected side benefit of ensuring that manuscripts remained intact and readable for many centuries. (p.320)

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ALAOUI, MOROCCO HAS TURNED THE PAGE, AUDIENCE SAYS NO

Posted on | November 18, 2009 | No Comments

ALAOUI_Sanaa_2009 ROME, NOVEMBER 18 – In the last 5 years the way of making film in Morocco has changed significantly: from the technology to the issues touched on, from the language used to nude scenes. It is a true revolution for the censorship army and the public not so inclined to ”put up with” not just the images, but also the strong criticism of power and society. In this way, Sanaa Alaoui, a young Moroccan actress who has worked in a number of films, shorts and TV series in Morocco, Spain, France and Mexico, told ANSAmed of the evolution of the seventh art in her country of origin. ”Today’s filmmakers”, she said, ”have modernised the way of making a film. In addition to the quality, which is clearly superior, the stories that our films tell have also changed: talking about drugs, prostitution, corruption politics and sex ten years ago was simply unimaginable. There are censors, but the directors are daring to challenge them”. In a scene from Oud el Ward (La beaute’ eparpillee, 2007) by Lahcen Zinoun – a film that was presented at the XV edition of the Medfilm Festival in Rome. And for which she won the best actress award at the Tangiers Festival – Sanaa bared her chest. ”In that moment”, ‘the actress explained, ”the actresses clothes are torn off, she is humiliated and practically denuded’. It is a scene that was subject to debate in Morocco and for which the beautiful Sanaa was held as an example by the press. ”I was just doing my job”, the artist replied, who wanted to stress that she would never do a gratuitous nude scene, because she ”detests vulgarity”. If Moroccan film has taken steps forward, not all of the public has been willing to accept this evolution. A film like Casanegra (2008) by Noureddin Lakhgaari, shocked the eyes and ears of the more ”chaste” population of the kingdom. ”In Morocco”, Sanaa explained, ”there are two types of spectators: Those ready to accept crude language, even if vulgar, and who want to see things change in their country, and those who don’t admit that the kingdom is spoken badly of, and don’t accept the bitterness of the tales”. The result is that Moroccan society and the public is split in two. ”It is thanks to the work of these directors that Morocco will evolve”, Alaoui concluded. (ANSAmed).

(by Cristiana Missori) ANSAmed

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Having some yellow Thai Curry …

Posted on | November 18, 2009 | No Comments

Having some yellow Thai Curry and a dose of Kimichi to give my spirits a boost… ahaaaaa much better… at Abb… http://loopt.us/mqYudA.t

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Chips n’ Salsa but no Margarit…

Posted on | November 16, 2009 | No Comments

Chips n’ Salsa but no Margarita… It’s nice n’ sunny though

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Twitter Weekly Updates for Amarg

Posted on | November 15, 2009 | No Comments

Heard a BBC review of 2012 today, the reviewer coined an excellent expression to describe the genre: disaster pornography. #
Coffee with my friend Matt then painful gym #
just discovered a new favorite news program: "World Focus" it comes on every evening on PBS http://worldfocus.org/blog/category/video/ ***** #
Liking the mixx of tweet makes things a bit simpler #
Cincinnati Christians Threaten Landowner Over Atheist Billboard: The billboard in Cincinnati had a simple messa.. http://bit.ly/3yw1Bh #
Chocolate, Pinot, laughs, friends, what's there not to like about Friday? #
It's raining elephants and hippos I'd better get the ark ready or at least my galoshes #