By Zayed Alzyoud
The University of Jordan (UJ) celebrated International Translation Day, observed worldwide on 30 September, under the theme “Literary Translation.” The event was inaugurated by Vice President for Quality & Local Accreditation Prof. Amira Taher Masri, on behalf of UJ President Prof. Nathir Obeidat, and organized by the university’s Translation Center.
In her opening remarks, Director of the Translation Center Dr. Ola Musmar described literary translation as an art that transcends language, conveying emotion and imagination across cultures. She emphasized its essence as a deeply creative and profoundly human endeavor, and called for empowering young translators to bring Jordanian and Arab literature to global readers.
The program featured discussions on the aesthetics and purpose of literary translation. Dr. Narjes Ennasser presented insights from the French perspective, citing Gibran Khalil Gibran’s The Prophet as a timeless model of literary philosophy.
Renowned novelist and poet Ibrahim Nasrallah, recipient of the 2026 Neustadt International Prize for Literature, and Prof. Moayyad Sharab explored “The Importance of Literary Translation in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.” They stressed that while technology can process words, it cannot emulate the intuition and creativity that define human expression.
The event concluded with a short documentary honoring leading Jordanian translators, including Issa Al-Naouri and Dr. Mohammad Shaheen, followed by a recognition ceremony celebrating contributors and participants.