In the Middle East, translation movements and the debates they have unleashed on language, culture and the politics and practices of identity have historically been tied to processes of state formation and administration, in the form of patronage, policy and publishing. Whether one considers the age of regional empires centered in Baghdad or Istanbul, or that of the modern nation-state from Egypt to Iran, this relationship points to the historical role of translation as a powerful and flexible tool of cultural politics. "Nation and Translation in the Middle East" focuses on this important aspect of translation in the region, with special emphasis on translation movements and the production of modernity in a historical context defined by European imperialism, enlightenment universalism, and globalization. While the papers assembled in this special issue of "The Translator" each address specific translation histories and practices in the Middle East, the broader questions they raise regarding the location and the historicity of translation offer a fruitful intervention into contemporary debates in translation studies on difference, fidelity and the ethics of translation. The volume opens with two essays that situate translation at the intersection of national canons, post colonial cultural hegemonies and 'private' market or activist-based initiatives in Egypt and Turkey. Other contributions discuss the utility of translation paradigms as a counterweight to the dominant orientalist historiography of modern print culture in the Arab World; the role of the translator as political agent and social reformer in twentieth-century Egypt; and the relationship between language, translation and the politics of identity in the multi-ethnic and multilingual Islamicate contexts of the Abbasid and Mughal Empires. The volume also includes a general bibliography on translation and the Middle East.

This book focuses on the important aspect of translation in the Middle East region, with special emphasis on translation movements and the production of modernity in a historical context defined by European imperialism, enlightenment universalism, and globalization.

The papers collected in this volume are a selection of papers presented at a conference on Language and Translation (Irbid, Jordan, 1992). In their revised form, they offer comparisons between Western and Arabic language usage and transfer. The articles bring together linguistic and cultural aspects in translation in a functional discourse framework set out in Part One: Theory, Culture, Ideology. Part Two addresses aspects for comparisons among translations and their cultural contexts (equivalence, stylistics and paragraphing). Part Three features Arabic-English language contact, specifically in technical writing, the media and academia. Part Four deals with problems in lexicography and grammar: terminology, verb-particle combinations and semantic diversity of ‘radical-doubling’ forms and includes a proposal for a new approach to English/Arabic dictionaries. Part Five turns to issues of interest to language teachers with practical proposals and demonstrations. Part Six deals with geopolitical factors linking the West and Middle East, focusing on equality in communication and exchange of information.

This compelling study presents an original look at how 'the nation' is represented in the literature of the Middle East. It includes chapters on Egypt, Sudan, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestine and Israel, drawing on the expertise of literary scholars, historians, political scientists and cultural theorists.The book offers a synthesising contribution to knowledge, placing Arab literature within the context of emergent or conflicting nationalist projects in the area. Topics addressed include:*the roles of literature and interpretation in defining national identity*exile*conflicting nationalisms*conflict resolutionThe approaches taken by the authors range from textual and rhetorical analysis to historical accounts of the role of literature in contributing to national identity, and political analysis of the use of literature as a tool in conflict resolution. Genres covered include fiction (the novel), poetry and verbal duelling.This unique exploration of the subject of literature and the nation in the Arab world will be of interest to anyone studying Middle Eastern literature and nationalism, as well as historians and political scientists.Key Features*Includes chapters from a broad range of American, European and Middle Eastern contributors, providing a synthesising perspective on the Middle East*A unique exploration of the connection between literature and national identity in the Middle East, set against the background of conflict*Covers the subject of literature and nation in Egypt, Sudan, Iraq, Palestine and Israel

The Middle East is a complex region where religion, culture and politi are deeply intertwined in a powerful relationship. From the early days of the Arab nationalist experiment to the emergence of Islamic fundamentalism in the early part of this century and beyond, the region's political movements have become a salient feature of its modern history and continue to be the subject of much heated debate and speculation. This collection of essays addresses these timely issues by providing both a general analysis of the region and more focused country-by-country examples. Among the many themes, nationalism and Islamism are re-examined to demonstrate their ongoing relevance and relationship to the presentday Arab context and identity. This is followed by a closer look at Islamist movements in Turkey, Iran, and Tunisia and how these forces may either come to erode the secular state (in the case of Turkey and Tunisia) or bolster the Islamic one (in the case of Iran). The author also examines the fate of the eight remaining monarchies of the Arab world and the conditions of their emergence, consolidation and continuation. By means of a thorough analysis of these important themes, along with country-specific case studies, the author provides a wealth of information that helps towards a comprehensive understanding of the region. 'An absorbing collection of essays ... Halliday's range allows him to make many penetrating cross-cultural comparisons.' New Statesman 'Nation and Religion in the Middle East provides a wealth of information that helps towards a comprehensive understanding of the region.' The Middle East 'A formidable collection.' Times Literary Supplement 'Halliday has proven one of the most wide-ranging and sophisticated analysts of the Middle East, and this collection of essays shows both those traits.' CHOICE

Perceptions of the Middle East in conflicting discourses from North America, South America, and Europe