On Translation

“And the translator is once again invisible, almost incidental. Not only is s/he anonymous but, because the lyrics are not even presented as the translation that they – for the most part – are, their creative labour is totally brushed aside.”

The other winners were Martin Pousson, for Black Sheep Boy, in fiction; Paul Kalanithi, for When Breath Becomes Air, in creative nonfiction; Elizabeth Letts, for The Perfect Horse, in research nonfiction; Solmaz Sharif, for Look, in poetry; Stacey Lee, for Outrun the Moon, in young adult; Eli Saslow, for “The White Flight of Derek Black,” in journalism; and Lisa Loomer, for Roe, in drama.

The prize is looking for works that exhibit “a marked commitment to mutual understanding and cultural exchange across the globe.” 

“Of the 37 countries where EBRD operates, four are Arab-majority: Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Tunisia.”

“But beyond understanding culturally specific references, regional dialects and local idioms (complicated enough in a language spoken by 422 million people in 22 countries), there are fundamental grammatical differences between Arabic and English that require careful attention.”

ALTA Managing Director Elisabeth Jaquette added over email, “We also have at least two editors with a specific interest in Arabic literature.”

“Winners receive $200, and their work, along with the Gabo Prize finalists, is featured in the next issue of ‘Lunch Ticket.'”