By Fatima Hassan
UNIVERSITY CITY, SHARJAH –– Two Brazilian scholars discussed the challenges of publishing and translating Arabic literature during a talk on Nov. 5 at the American University of Sharjah’s Library Building.
The event was hosted by the Center for Arab Studies and Islamic Civilizations, AUS Press and the Department of English.
It featured Professor Safa Jubran of São Paulo University and Laura Di Pietro, founder of Editora Tabla, a Rio de Janeiro publishing house.
Jubran, a Lebanese Brazilian writer, said she felt it was her mission to share Arabic literature with Brazilian readers. “Some people say you lose the meaning of words when you translate, but what about the things you find?” she asked.
She added that certain expressions, such as inshallah, remain untranslated to preserve authenticity.
Di Pietro shared that her travels inspired her to launch Editora Tabla, which focuses on publishing Arabic and Middle Eastern literature in Brazil and fostering cultural dialogue.
Jubran also criticized artificial intelligence in translation, saying she feared it could distort the writer’s voice. “It may help with research,” she said, “but I would never let it rewrite anything.”
The event ended with a Q&A session, where attendees engaged the speakers on the importance of cultural exchange through language.
