ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a framework for discussing English into Arabic community translation in the Canadian context, for the purpose of integrating highly educated immigrants. This discussion is based on the definition of community translation as producing documents translated for a certain community of users to disseminate orienting information. The scope of this chapter will focus on the community of highly educated Arab immigrants in Canada and how forms of language in translation might impact their integration. The purpose is to show the necessity of hiring academically trained translators with at least a Bachelor’s degree in translation in the market of community translation serving immigrants in English–Arabic language combination. The supporting examples of the argument are based on the author’s professional experience and observations in the practice of translation and revision of texts translated by freelance community translators. These freelance translators work in the field on the basis of their bilingualism, but do not hold a university degree in translation. Their work in community translation is a secondary source of income.
Focusing on highly educated Arab immigrants in Canada highlights the importance of upholding quality in the community translation product, because such immigrants have a good grasp of both Arabic and English (and sometimes French). Despite having the linguistic grasp, they still need to use community-translated documents, as they lack familiarity with the Canadian context in terms of how things are thought of and done. Such documents orient immigrants to services and venues available to facilitate their integration in the new homeland. Highly educated immigrants are capable of drawing conclusions about the quality of such translated documents. When the translation quality is deemed unprofessional, it might trigger the construct of the economic motivation and the economic roles expected of immigrants in the new homeland (i.e. the kind of jobs immigrants are expected to get, or be offered, in the country). Integration can be impeded when immigrants turn away from accessing such community services and venues made available through translator-mediated communication. To ensure smooth and effective integration of immigrants in the new homeland, it is necessary to enhance quality assurance in community translation by regularizing it and mapping professional training in the light of genuine understanding of the self-image of immigrants in the new homeland.
