Words in Motion
Words in Motion
How translation creates a domino effect of enlightenment
Learning and communicating in English has always been a passion of mine. My enthusiasm laid the groundwork for me to join the English Language and Literature Department at Damascus University in pursuit of a more systematic, in-depth study of the language and its rules, history, and culture. Through the lens of the English language, I became familiar with various schools of thought and even came to understand more about the history of Arabic-speaking countries. In high school, that magic combination set me apart from my classmates.
As is the case in many countries in the Middle East, the knowledge available in the bookstores in Syria is limited to heavily censored material supporting the status quo and the mainstream views of culture, religion, politics, and even history. Any seeker of unfiltered information has historically needed two things: English language proficiency and access to the Internet. These powerful tools equipped one with access to a broad swath of ideas and thoughts usually unheard and unspoken of. Ironically, through English, I learned the accurate political and historical realities of the country I was born and raised in. Many of my peers and classmates were not afforded the opportunity to learn about these subjects because they lacked the language skills and resources necessary to seek it out. How can you seek the truth if you don’t even know it’s out there?
It was these hurdles that attracted me to Ideas Beyond Borders, where there is already a group of young people adamant about being part of making knowledge accessible to wider audiences in the Middle East whose language proficiency, or lack thereof, had crippled them and limited their ability to access knowledge not contingent on the approval of authorities—be they societal, political, or religious.
Hence, I started my journey as a translator with IBB with their Bayt al-Hikma translation program. My work began with translating Wikipedia pages into Arabic. The role of a translator for the Arabic-speaking community is not simply about converting text from one language to another; it is about opening doors to an entire world of information previously out of reach for many. Our team of translators takes great care, focusing on ensuring that the information translated is accurate and presented to the readers in a way that resonates with their cultural background while maintaining the factual accuracy of the material.
The effect of the translations was immediately noticeable within my circle of friends. Many of them needed a strong foundation from which to launch their research and required more comprehensive background knowledge in their respective fields of study. Thanks to the translated material by our IBB team, they now have a repository of knowledge in Arabic to point them toward more reliable and free-of-bias sources of knowledge. My friend Karim was an eager learner studying economics. Still, his English level wasn’t enough to access and read English resources—it wasn’t until he found the articles IBB translated on economic theories that his research could truly begin. The articles were not didactic and were up to date. For him, this represented a complete departure from the assigned textbooks at his college, most of which were either badly translated or written by the module professors themselves, whose knowledge had been limited or outdated. He is now an ardent follower of Bayt al-Hikma’s articles, magazines, and books.
Eventually, I moved from translating Wikipedia articles to the book translation team, spurring another monumental change in my perspective as both a reader and a translator. The book translation project at IBB has democratized the online information landscape and made it possible for individuals, regardless of their financial status, to access a wide range of books on subjects that could be considered dangerous or even frowned upon societally. The knowledge presented in the translated books is comprehensive and up-to-date, which amazed me while translating.
One of the greatest achievements of our efforts was the translation of Jacob Mchangama's seminal work, Free Speech: A History from Socrates to Social Media, which is a tour de force on the history and significance of one of humanity's most cherished and, at times as is evidenced from my personal experience, contentious rights. The book offers a detailed exploration of the evolution of free speech, starting with its ancient origins all the way to its current global manifestations. It provides readers with a panoramic view of how this fundamental human right has shaped societies, informed revolutions, and influenced personal narratives.
I’ve come to witness how, at its core, IBB believes in the uninhibited flow of ideas and the power of knowledge to transcend boundaries and reshape societies for the better. By equipping individuals with knowledge, we help them enlighten others, creating a ripple effect of enlightenment.
Despite being in the Information Age, free speech is what most of the Arabic-speaking world continues to lack. There is a dire need for societal tolerance of opposing opinions that do not see eye to eye with the mainstream narratives. Giving more people in the region access to diverse viewpoints empowers them to dispel the shadows of intolerance and censorship, which are the primary causes of extremist attitudes and ideologies. Without access to a positive alternative, people seek belonging and truth from radical, biased sources. IBB is working to change that. To give people an off-ramp from extremism—one that is both logical and appealing.
IBB’s work causes unease for a certain sector of individuals or regimes that are resistant to change or unwilling to accept opposing or divergent viewpoints as valid. This makes translating and disseminating books risky in such repressive environments. However, I have seen firsthand how our colleagues in Iraq organize university events with students' support and distribute the books for free—proving that efforts to fight fanaticism need to be organized and done with the help of fresh, aspiring minds.
The rewards of working as a translator with IBB extend far beyond the act of translating texts. It has been a journey of both emotional and intellectual growth, one filled with moments of profound satisfaction derived from contributing to societal change, one step at a time. With each article and book translated, there is a glimmer of something bigger and better for the readers, including ourselves, who might otherwise have been left in the shadows.
Looking towards the future, the vision for this work's impact is vast: It is my hope that our translations will contribute to bridging the intellectual and cultural gaps between the Arab communities and the rest of the world. What our team is undertaking is crucial in shaping an open, informed society with a free flow of ideas, enabling individuals to widen their horizons and realize their potential—and ultimately pave the way for future generations to reshape the region into a place of robust cultural exchange, dialogue, and understanding.
This article was written by Rami Abo Zarad.