ABSTRACT
Translation and interpreting of European languages have been taught as specialized undergraduate subjects at a number of British universities since the 1960s, with universities such as Bath, Salford, Surrey, and Heriot-Watt acquiring reputations as national centers of excellence. Arabic/English translation and interpreting are more recent university subjects, and initially at least were only taught at postgraduate level. They have their origins in private contracts in the early 1980s to train groups from various Arab countries in Arabic/English translation. These gave rise to a more official course based at Heriot-Watt University, and subsequently to master's courses at Salford and Heriot-Watt.
