Arabic speech-to-text technology introduced in KSA

Maqsam, a MENA-based cloud communications company, is on track to disrupt Arabic-speaking customer engagement.

Founded by Fouad Jeryes and Sinan Taifour, Maqsam has developed generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the field of Arabic automatic speech recognition (ASR), also known as speech-to-text (STT). The company's language models have outperformed Google, Microsoft, and other regional competitors in the race to accurately transcribe the diverse Arabic dialects of the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) region, Maqsam said.

Source: Maqsam. The first-of-its-kind STT solution was launched by Maqsam at LEAP 2023 in KSA.

Arabic has 422 million native speakers and around 1.5 billion total speakers globally, but is one of the most neglected languages when it comes to native deep tech offerings, Maqsam noted. Maqsam's technology can transcribe the different Arabic dialects spoken every day in MENA despite their varying orthographies, phonetics and phonological differences, reliably and cost-effectively. 

"Many years of experience went into achieving where we are today and yet this is the tip of the iceberg. Our competitive advantage lies within our proudly native and capable regional team of engineers, machine learning task force as well as mentors who are celebrated global leaders in this particular discipline. Our goal is one where we are helping enable the MENA region to unleash its true potential within a global revolution, rather than be an afterthought once more." said Taifour, CEO of Maqsam during their live showcase at the LEAP technology expo in Riyadh.

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Brush up on English and Arabic translation skills in KSA

Language specialist Tarjama has launched a Certified Translation Masterclass dedicated to strengthening the translation skills of job seekers in the KSA language market. The initiative provides translators and linguists across the KSA with a chance to boost their careers and gain a competitive edge over others in the fast-growing language industry.

The Certified Translation Masterclass will focus on English and Arabic, with an emphasis on the latest technologies and skills required by today's employers. The course will also offer sector-focused insights for translators looking to improve their skills in the translation of media, business, and economic content.

Sessions will cover intensive written translation, general translation, media translation, translation technology plus business, technical and economic insights. The certifications are accredited by the Association of Translation Companies (ATC).

"At Tarjama, we have decades of hard-earned knowledge. The job market is always changing, and the language industry is growing continuously, with an increased reliance on technology. As leaders in language and language technologies, we can contribute to the upskilling of citizens and the development of local content in line with the Human Capability Development Program and Vision 2030 objectives," said Tarjama founder and CEO Nour Al Hassan.

"The development of language services goes hand in hand with national growth." Details:

Sign up for the masterclass.

Sheikh Zayed Book Award winners to be translated

Source: Sheikh Zayed Book Award.
2018 reading panel.

The Sheikh Zayed Book Award has launched a translation initiative in cooperation with the Frankfurt Book Fair NY branch, aiming to support publishing houses in translating the award’s winning titles into English, French and German.

HE Saif Saeed Ghobash, Director General of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, said the initiative is part of activities to celebrate the Year of Zayed. “This year is witnessing the 12th edition of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award, marking more than a decade of the hard work and effort that has laid the foundation for a cultural and literary landmark that seeks to celebrate creative literary scholars and intellectuals. The award has always been characterised by its openness to international cultures and encouraging remarkable cultural activity at both Arab and international levels," he said.

“This partnership is aimed at encouraging translations from Arabic into other languages and spreading Arab culture in the West, thus strengthening the position of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award among international awards as an incubator of Arab culture and promoter of dialogue among civilisations.”

HE Dr Ali Bin Tamim, Secretary General of the award, said: “The partnership of Sheikh Zayed Book Award with the Frankfurt Book Fair stems from our overarching vision to consistently support the constructive cultural communication between Arabic and other languages, as well as to continue bolstering the developing translation activities within the Arab world. Representing the cherished values of the award’s mission during the nation’s celebration of the Year of Zayed, this collaboration signifies the endeavours towards enriching cultures and arts, combining tradition and modernity, encouraging cultural openness, diversity, and acceptance of the other. From there springs our deep belief in the role of translation in promoting dialogue among civilisations and building the spirit of convergence among nations, reflecting what we strive for in this strategic partnership, which will be pivotal to realising the vision and objectives of the award.”

Juergen Boos, President of the Frankfurt Book Fair said: “Looking at the previous editions of the award and their winners’ records, and given my position as president of the Frankfurt Book Fair, member of the award’s Scientific Committee and follower of its journey since its inception, I can verily say that the award has undoubtedly become an international cultural platform, operating at the same level as other major literary awards. In that light, the award’s objectives combined with our endeavors have led to the crystallisation of this strategic partnership, which aims to facilitate the translation of the winning titles into German, English and French.

“This helps raise awareness internationally regarding the Sheikh Zayed Book Award, in addition to promoting the award’s work and winners at the cultural and literary international events, such as the Frankfurt Book Fair.”

The agreement also includes promoting the award’s winning titles among international publishing houses, with a special focus on the Literature and Children’s Literature categories. 

Divine Connect wins Innovation 4 Impact Awards with simultaneous translation technology

• Five projects shortlisted for finals out of 250 submissions
• Competition harnesses technology to create innovative solutions that meet Muslim needs

Source: Dubai Chamber. Divine Connect receives the award.

A US company that allows Muslims around the world to hear Friday prayers and announcements from Islam’s holiest sites took first place in the Innovation 4 Impact Awards at the Global Islamic Economy Summit (GIES).

The competition, organised by Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA) and Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre (DIEDC) in partnership with Thomson Reuters, aims to connect global entrepreneurs with the resources needed to create innovative products that redefine the future of the global Islamic and digital economy.

Divine Connect manufactures translation handsets for pilgrims performing Hajj and umrah, as well as for Muslims around wanting to hear the Jumu’ah khutbah (خطبة الجمعة, Friday sermon) from the Masjid Al Haram in Makkah, and Masjid Al Nabawi in Madinah, KSA translated into their own languages. Sermons and announcements, which are delivered in Arabic, are translated in real-time into seven different languages, benefitting over 70% of non-Arabic speakers on Hajj or umrah.

The award was presented to Divine Connect’s President and CTO Mohamed Pazhoor by Dr Jumma Al Matrooshi, Deputy CEO, DSOA, Badr Buhannad, Executive Vice President of Corporate Strategy and ICT at DSOA, and Mustafa Adil, Head of Islamic Finance, Thomson Reuters. Divine Connect received a trophy and a cash prize of US$20,000 in addition to a range of business incubator services worth more than US$10,000, including free office space for a year at the Dubai Technology Center for Entrepreneurship. Divine Connect also receives an opportunity to establish its business in Dubai.

At the launch of the technology in September Mohamed Pazhoor said, “A team of product designers and engineers have worked tirelessly for the last three years on creating this technology to support digital equipment that transmits real-time translations of the spoken Arabic into Urdu, English, Indonesian, French, Turkish, Hausa, and Persian languages, simultaneously.

“We have already done several tests of this technology and are very happy with the results. This is a historic breakthrough and we remain committed to providing excellent service to the 20 million pilgrims who visit Makkah annually.”

At the award ceremony Mohammad Pazhoor said, “We overcame the challenges with sheer dedication. We want to take our project to the global level and welcome investors and partners. We remain committed and have an intention to set up a production and operation centre in Dubai.”

More than 250 applications were submitted from over 40 countries, representing a wide range of sectors including data, social media, e-commerce and many more. Applications were reviewed by a committee of experts comprised of business and industry leaders in the Islamic economy space. The five entrepreneurs in the field of digital Islamic technology and Arabic content who successfully passed the two initial assessment rounds to make it to the finals presented their business ventures towards supporting digital Islamic economy and enhancing Arabic content during GIES 2016.

Nadim Najjar, MD, Thomson Reuters, Middle East and North Africa, said: “The digital economy cluster plays an essential role in sustaining an innovative, competitive and a growing environment in developing economies, and the Innovation 4 Impact competition emerged from our commitment to nurturing the spirit of entrepreneurship in the Islamic digital economy sphere."

DSOA’s Bader Buhannad said: “We would like to congratulate all those who made it to the finals. They are the trendsetters in the Islamic digital economy, and their innovative business solutions are true examples of how we can take the Islamic economy to a new level.”

Ahmad Alshugairi, CEO of ARAM TV and part of the judging panel, said: “The ideas that were presented actually address and fill genuine needs of the people. I was happy to see the diverse range of ideas that again show how important innovation is to tackle challenges around the world.”

Divine Connect is working on adding more languages and aims to provide the service in 35 different languages.

Interested?

Watch the video introducing the translation technology

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Hashtag: #GIES2016

Illustrating the trends in Quranic commentary worldwide

Source: OUP.

The OUP/Institute of Ismaili Studies has published The Qur'an and its Readers Worldwide: Contemporary Commentaries and Translations, edited by Suha Taji-Farouki (ISBN: 9780198754770) as part of its Qur'anic Studies Series.

Some 80% of Muslims in the contemporary world speak languages other than Arabic, the language of the Quran. To respond to the needs of their communities, Muslim scholars and laypersons must increasingly explain and communicate the meanings of the Quran in their own languages — including through the medium of Quran commentary and translation.

The Qur'an and its Readers Worldwide provides an introduction to this rich and expanding field. It brings together a selection of Quran commentaries and translations produced across the twentieth century to the present day, and ranging in provenance from the regions of the traditional Islamic heartlands to the new loci of global Islam. Individual chapters examine works in Arabic, Bosnian, Chinese, English, German, Malay, Persian, Swahili, Turkish and Urdu, each viewed in terms of the impact of modernity on the encounter with the Quran.

Through these case studies this book illustrates the defining trends in Quran commentary worldwide, addressing evolving questions of authorship, message, intended readership and media of communication. It also samples debates concerning Quranic meaning in translation.

Taji-Farouki is Senior Lecturer in Modern Islam at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, the University of Exeter. She was formerly at the University of Durham, and has held Visiting Fellowships in London, Berlin, Oxford and Amman.

Interested?

The hardback costs £60.

Ask for vegetarian food in 50 languages

Source: Veggoagogo page
on the Play Store.

Helsinki-based Agogo Apps has launched Veggoagogo, a 50-language travel translation app for vegetarians* that is available on both the iOS and Android platforms. The app is the first of a number of travel translation apps designed to use the same application architecture, Agogo Apps said.

Besides defining what a vegetarian is, Veggoagogo addresses many of the needs that the travelling vegetarian faces on a daily basis, from locating a restaurant that serves vegetarian fare, to choosing suitable items from the menu, down to thanking the chef, waiter, concierge, market-stall holder or friendly local.


The app can be used without Internet connectivity. The user chooses a question from a list, then selects from one of 50 languages available before tapping the translate button and being presented with their translation. The translation screen text has been optimised to be displayed at distance. It can be flicked between night and day modes for ease of reading in all lighting conditions.

Source: Veggoagogo page on the Play Store. Explaining what a vegetarian does not eat, and asking for dishes which have no meat, in Spanish.

Illustrator Cat MacInnnes created a range of animal icons that add to the usability of the app. Users can tap the animal icons atop the translation screen and be presented with full screen versions which can be swiped and used as a visual backup to the translated message. 

Said Paul Dodson, founder of Agogo Apps: "Often when travelling abroad it's hard to get across exactly what a vegetarian will and will not eat. In many countries it's a loosely defined concept where vegetarian dishes may still include fish or seafood. With Veggoagogo we aimed to do two things: one, to define very clearly what a vegetarian won't eat and two, to offer a range of questions that travelling vegetarians face on a daily basis. In version 1 of Veggoagogo, we do this in 50 languages.

"Veggoagogo has been designed with simplicity and usability in mind. The interface is uncluttered and hopefully, aesthetically pleasing. All of our translations have been professionally completed by native language speakers."

Veganagogo, a vegan version of the app is due on the market in June 2015.

Interested?

Download the app on iTunes
Download the app on Google Play

*As this app is for vegetarians, it is unlikely to help with asking for food that has been prepared without alcohol.

Separating worldviews from lexicology and exegesis

Source: OUP.

The Meaning of the Word: Lexicology and Qur'anic Exegesis is part of Oxford University Press' Qur'anic Studies Series. The 480-page hardback is expected to be available by February 2015, and priced at £70.

The book provides what the publishers say is the first in-depth discussion focusing on the relationship between the interpretation of the Quran and the meanings of words, from the beginnings of Quranic exegesis (tafsīr) to the contemporary period.

Stephen R. Burge, Research Associate at the Institute of Ismaili Studies, London and the editor of the book, believes that the different theological perspectives of exegetes and translators, whether medieval or modern, influence how they understand the Quranic worldview, its theology and ethical values.
"Many modern scholars have recognised that lexicology plays an important part in exegesis, but there are few studies of how exegetes use it to develop their interpretations of the Quran or that address lexicology in Quranic exegesis in any depth. This volume of essays addresses this gap in the scholarship," states a description of the book on the OUP website.

Individual contributions analyse the different tafsīr scholars' approaches to lexicology, as well as offering comparative thematic studies of law, women in Islam, and theology. The contributions cover a wide range of subjects, from linguistics to literary criticism, and law and gender to mysticism.

Besides Burge, who also authored Angels in Islam: Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti's al-Haba'ik fi akhbar al-mala'ik (Routledge, 2012), other contributors include: Herbert Berg, Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religion at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington. Ayesha Chaudhry, Assistant Professor of Islamic Studies and Gender Studies at the University of British Columbia. Agostino Cilardo, Professor of the History and Institutions of the Islamic World, and Professor of Islamic Law at the Università degli Studi di Napoli 'L'Orientale'. Claude Gilliot, Professor Emeritus of the Université d'Aix-Marseille and IREMAM, and a member of the Institut Dominicain d'Études Orientales (IDEO) in Cairo. Toby Mayer, Research Associate in the Qur'anic Studies Unit at The Institute of Ismaili Studies, London. Christopher Melchert, University Lecturer in Arabic and Islam at the University of Oxford. Devin Stewart, Associate Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies at Emory University. Kees Versteegh, Professor Emeritus of the University of Nijmegen. Stefan Wild. Professor Emeritus of the University of Bonn (Rheinische Freidrich-Wilhelms Universität Bonn). M. Brett Wilson, Assistant Professor of Islamic Studies at Macalester College. Travis Zadeh, Assistant Professor of Islamic Studies at Haverford College.