The Arabic language has been with us for more than 1000 years. Experts believe that it originated in the Arabian Peninsula, where it was first spoken by nomadic tribes living in the north-western frontier of the peninsula. To buttress this fact, Arabic actually means nomadic. Arabic is a member of the Semitic family of languages and is classified as a northern Semitic language.
Some other Semitic languages include Abyssinia to the south, Akkadian to the north and Aramaic, Syriac and Hebrew to the east and west. Today, Arabic is the most widely spoken Semitic language. The language is written using the Arabic script and was spread as a result of numerous nomadic tribes travelling out of the Arabic peninsula. Arabic words are made up of Arabic alphabets, which are then written using the Arabic script.
Arabic is one of the most important languages in the world. It is indispensable not only because it is one of the 6 most spoken languages in the world and used by more than 400 million people, but also because it has some characteristics that make it different from other languages. Egyptian Arabic is the most widely spoken form of Arabic.
Today, Arabic is the official language of 26 countries and Modern Standard Arabic is one of six official languages of the United Nations.
Why translate from Arabic to English?
You might wonder why it is important to translate from Arabic to English. For one, as stated earlier in the article, there are more than 400 million Arabic speakers, with a sizeable portion of them not understanding another language. Another reason is that English is the most widely spoken language in the world.
Another reason why Arabic to English translation is critical is because while Arabic is widely spoken, it still ranks behind other languages in terms of the number of speakers. Additionally, most people, without exception, respond better to conversations and situations using language they grew up speaking. In order to conduct business in this ever-connected world, we have today, it isn’t just enough to speak your language, you also should be able to translate your works: from Arabic to English.
Translating Arabic words into English can also help international commerce. One reason why Arabic translation services are booming is that English is said to be the language of global business and if businesses operating in the Arab world aim to reap the benefits of the global economy, it is important to translate from Arabic to English. In short, Arabic to English translation can help businesses expand around the world.
MSA vs Dialect Arabic Translation
When searching for Arabic translation services to translate from Arabic to English, you will discover that there are two distinctions to be aware of: MSA and Dialect Arabic.
MSA
MSA stands for Modern Standard Arabic, which is also known as classical Arabic. Modern Standard Arabic writing uses the Arabic alphabet. This form is the standardised and grammatically correct form of Arabic used in most formal speeches and writing in the Arab world. MSA is typically learnt by those new to Arabic grammar and while it is the standard, it is too formal and rarely spoken in daily life. When Arabic to English translation is mentioned, it is this form of Arabic used.
Dialect Arabic
Dialect Arabic locally known as Lahja or Amiyya tend to differ from one nation to another. They could even differ from one village to another across North Africa and the Middle East. The advantages and disadvantages of learning a dialect, depending on the actual dialect. Certain dialects due to their large population are understood by more people, however, lesser-known dialects can be difficult to comprehend. The Arabic alphabet used in dialect Arabic is the same as MSA. However, the way the Arabic script is written tends to differ from MSA.
Advantages of MSA translation
Modern Standard Arabic grammar is structured and correct, unlike local dialects that were informal before developing into spoken languages. There are even some people that find MSA easier. Additionally, MSA is considered to be the purest iteration of Arabic, and it is widely spoken and respected across North Africa and the Middle East.
Disadvantages of MSA translation services
MSA is not widely spoken in everyday life. For this reason, it is somewhat relegated to officialdom, on documents, print media. Very rarely will you be able to find people willing to speak using Modern Standard Arabic grammar.
Additionally, when translating from Modern Standard Arabic to English, there is an added challenge that Arabic translation services have to consider and that is the Arabic grammar structure. MSA is a lot more structured compared to dialect Arabic, grammar, so it can be quite difficult to accurately translate not just Arabic words but the intention behind those words. One thing to note is that Modern Standard Arabic is typically written rather than spoken, making it best for translating Arabic writing using the Arabic script.
Advantages of Dialect Arabic translation services
Dialect Arabic is the language of daily conversation amongst the local people. This helps Dialect Arabic to English translation provide a clearer picture of the Arabic words. By its very nature it is colloquial, so you are unlikely to see it used in Arabic writing. Dialect Arabic to English translation is a lot easier than Modern Standard Arabic translation.
Disadvantages of Dialect Arabic translation services
Arabic translation services that translate from Dialect Arabic to English can be incredibly limited due to the fact that a local dialect, particularly one that isn’t as popular, might be completely useless outside the country it is spoken in. There are even certain dialects that experts say are different languages. Focusing on dialect Arabic words can be limiting, especially if you want to understand mainstream Arabic writing and grammar. This is because most media and Arabic writing uses MSA.
Additionally, Dialect Arabic grammar tends to throw the rule book out of the window, with its seemingly structureless phrases. The great thing is that the Arabic alphabet used by both dialect Arabic and MSA are the same. You might also find a dearth of resources when searching for dialect Arabic translation services.
Advice from Arabic Translators
The best Arabic translation services, particularly ones that translate from Arabic to English, are ones that first develop a solid foundation in MSA and the Arabic script, alongside modern standard Arabic grammar and vocabularies. MSA is used to translate the Arabic alphabet in a range of industries and circumstances such as technical, protocol, formal, legal, commercial, administrative, medical, and other structured areas.
