Kingdom Academy simplifies the role of historical translation in building bridges between the past and the present

To what extent does the translation of historical documents have historical value in and of itself? Is translation of history possible? Then does translation have any role in documenting and verifying historical events? How does translation preserve historical truth? Questions and other answers were answered by Khaled Ben Al-Saghir, translator and professor of contemporary history at Mohammed V University in Rabat, on the occasion of his arrival on Friday evening as a guest of the Higher Academic Commission for Translation affiliated with the Kingdom Academy, where he gave a lecture under the title “History and Translation: What is the Relationship?… Stakes and Limits,” in the presence of Abdul Al-Jalil Al-Hajamari, Permanent Secretary of the Academy, and a group of those interested and researchers in history.

Abdel Fattah Al-Hajamari, Director of the Arabization Coordination Office of the Arab League Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, said in his introductory speech on this occasion: “History is the memory of peoples and the mirror of civilizations, and it has an important role in understanding our present and shaping our future, but what if this history was written in a language that we do not understand.” ?”, before answering: “Here comes the role of translation as an essential tool for linking the past to the present and understanding different cultures and civilizations.”

Al-Hajamari pointed out the difficulties that the researcher may face in translating historical texts, such as “the antiquity of the language. These texts may contain an ancient or middle-aged language, which are languages ​​that differ from modern languages ​​in many cases. Therefore, the translator needs to understand the text deeply and convert it into The modern language,” also pointing to “the old, unfamiliar expressions and words that may be included in historical texts, which forces translators to make strenuous efforts to remove this obstacle, in addition to the textual defect that may occur in the historical text as a result of damage or destruction.”

Al-Hakmari recorded that “the relationship between history and translation calls on the researcher to think about the limits of the latter’s influence on documenting historical events, and to explain how translated texts are formed and understood,” explaining that “this relationship includes several levels, most notably the documentation of events and texts, the formation of historical understanding, and then translation.” As an instrument of power and control, it was sometimes used as a means of strengthening authority, especially in the Middle Ages, where translation of religious texts, for example, was a means of strengthening the authority of the church.

The speaker considered that “translation is also an effective factor in understanding the national identity of countries that can introduce their culture and confirm their position in the world through the translation of literary and historical works,” stressing at the same time that “translation is not the transfer of words from one language to another, but rather it is also the transfer of meanings and concepts.” And contexts, which requires the translator historian to have a deep understanding of the culture and rely on historical analysis, that is, the ability to analyze the original text and accurately transfer this analysis to the intermediary language.”

For his part, Khaled Ben Al-Saghir, professor of contemporary history at Mohammed V University in Rabat, and the translator who translated a group of theses and historical research, began his lecture by asking the following question: “How does a translator become a translator?”, before adding: “When we return to historical stages or to archaeology We will find that translation is a practice that has existed since ancient times and since the existence of ancient civilizations, especially in the Mediterranean basin region, which is considered a fertile field for translation activity since its banks are overlooked by peoples with different cultures and languages.

Ben Al-Saghir explained that “translation has been practiced in the Mediterranean space since the era of the Pharaohs, and since their invasion and attempt to attack a group of regions, meaning that the practice of translation is present even in invasion and wars and is necessary in times of peace and in the practice of trade,” noting that “the Romans also when they took control In the region, they occupied many peoples, and it was necessary to talk to them and dialogue with them in their language, and therefore the craft of translation began to appear from ancient times, which is no less important than armies, as it is also a weapon.

The same lecturer stated that “the practice of academic translation raises the question of the legitimacy of this practice in itself,” asking: “Does the translator necessarily be a historian?”, adding that “the translation work remains open to all possibilities and is not governed by laws, but rather there are circumstances and personal relationships.” Temporary needs impose this work in the academic field.”

The historian himself reviewed a group of historical works, texts, and theses that he translated, highlighting their contexts and circumstances, pointing out that “in some historical contexts, the translators enjoyed privileges and tax exemptions, and the translators used to marry among themselves.” He added that “one of the ambassadors described the translators as The tongue that speaks, the ear that hears, the eye that sees, the hand that gives, and the spirit that works, and the success of any negotiation depends on them.”

The narrator continued, “The translator in the Mediterranean basin, especially in Italian cities, was a man of authority, and he was sometimes accused of espionage, such that the translator was destined to be executed on many occasions.”

The same historian acknowledged “the difficulty of translating collective works and books into other languages, because the articles included in them are written in a different language,” noting at the same time that “translation of this type of book does not exist in Morocco and in the Arab world in general, as if it is not important.” On another level, he stated, “The roles of translation in the field of history are to help preserve oral narratives.”