Translation, Orientalism, and Arab-Islamic Heritage: Exploring Intellectual Exchangeand Knowledge Transmission

This booklet examines translation as a bridge between cultures and ideas, with a focus on Arabic translation and its role in global knowledge exchange. It highlights the delays often seen in translating scientific, literary, and philosophical works, where ideas reach readers after losing part of their original relevance. Drawing on thinkers such as Gayatri Spivak and Thair Deeb, it reflects on the cultural and intellectual gaps translation seeks to close.It explores the relationship between translator and author, showing how alignment or divergence shapes translation style and meaning, illustrated through examples of major translators. It also analyzes the reception of key Orientalist works in Arab thought, discussing how they were translated, interpreted, and debated.The booklet ultimately invites readers to view translation not just as linguistic transfer, but as an active form of intellectual engagement.