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Is it easier for you to translate from English to Arabic or from Arabic to English? Why?

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Question added by Sarah Ali , Senior Evaluation Specialist , United Nations
Date Posted: 2017/01/03
Sami Bennadi
by Sami Bennadi , Translator , A.T.Kearney

I think that translations are NOT always so easy! But, translation from a second language into a native one should be as easy as possible. However, the more a translator masters his/ her languages pairs, the more simple and confortable he / she can have the translation job done.

Mohammad Al Saadei
by Mohammad Al Saadei , Freelance Copywriter , Online

Hi Sarah, 

for me, it's the same but I prefer to Arabic. 

generally speaking, many factors play major role in this matter, 

1- the typing speed in each language, the faster the easier 

2- the volume of lexicon (vocab) the translator has in each language 

3-the context itself, if it is media, press release or the like, to Arabic is easier or let us say much possible, if it's contract or agreement, the level of difficulty is the same, especially for someone who has extensive experience in legal tests. 

P.S: unfortunately, and because of the break away from Arabic to English in our societies, the level of English among youths is way better than Arabic, which is really frustrating and dangerous in the long run. so that I will choose Arabic ten times over English, whether it is easier, harder or otherwise. 

regards, 

Abdallah Jamal
by Abdallah Jamal , Legal Assistant , Abdulwahed Bin Shabib Government Services

Speaking of how easy, it's just the same.

Though translating from Arabic to English may take a little bit longer; because improvising in this one -specially in Legal translation- is a bit risky, that's why I prefer to stick to the source's context most of the time.

In other words, I assume that Arabic natives usually dare to improvise while expressing something in Arabic, in this case you completely understand the English source and freely express it in Arabic (Adopting freestyle translation).

atif altaher
by atif altaher , Training Specialist , Sahara Net Company

As it is to me, it is easy to me to translate from English to Arabic, because, the Arabic Language is My Mother Tongue. therefore, I find it more easier to me to translate from English into Arabic. meanwhile it is difficult to me to translate from Arabic into English Language.  

saleh Abdu
by saleh Abdu , Administrative Officer , Fawaz A Alhokair & Co.

I think to translate to the native language is easier because you practice your native language since childhood before going to school and you  deal with it all the day wherever you go. You master the language due to the continuous communications not only in translation works.

Syed Hasin Akhtar
by Syed Hasin Akhtar , Product & Operations Manager , Talabat Al Maktab- Ezorder Office Supplies

So silly... it totally depends on your command of a particular language, be it Arabic or English... it's like you are asking, "which came first, hen or an egg".

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