Fans of Translated Literature Flock to Riyadh International Book Fair

Enthusiasts of translated books across all age groups are flocking to the Riyadh International Book Fair, which coincided this year with the International Translation Day, observed annually on September 30. Saudi Arabia has made substantial efforts in the field of translation, establishing associations, initiatives, and competitions to support individuals at the forefront of the industry. The Translation Association, which is participating in the fair, plays a crucial role in advancing the translation sector in the Kingdom. It organizes competitions, provides consultations, facilitates career opportunities for language specialists, and advocates for translation as a cultural bridge. The Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission has significantly supported the translation sector and language specialists. The "Tarjem" initiative has bolstered the Saudi translation movement, enriched Arabic content with valuable materials from diverse languages, and supported the academic translation movement in Sau di universities. The commission also established the Arab Observatory for Translation, which offers comprehensive insights into the translation movement through approved documentation standards. By creating a digital database, the observatory enables translation agencies to formulate strategic plans for their translation activities. This endeavour aims to establish a unified national plan for the translation movement in Saudi Arabia, ultimately contributing to the transfer and localization of knowledge. Furthermore, publishing houses at the fair provide translated copies of children's books, aiming to satisfy children's curiosity for knowledge through interactive and visually appealing content. They also provide translated copies of educational materials, family and cooking books, medical and scientific literature, as well as numerous foreign works from diverse languages. The Ministry of Culture also introduced the Translation Award, which aims to foster competitiveness in the translation market and recogn ize contributors to translation, Arabization, and knowledge dissemination. Source: Saudi Press Agency