INTERPRETATION IN POST-2003 IRAQ

Abstract

The history of translation in Iraq arises of its deep roots. It started strongly twelve hundred years ago and has been participated in showing the scientific and thinking identity of Iraq. The most thriving period was during the time of the Abbasid state, when translation helped spreading knowledge and science around the world. Later, it has been disappeared for centuries, in a period has called dark ages, during which Iraq and other Arab states were suffering of cultural deterioration. Eventually, Iraq has returned back to be an independent state after the declaring of the modern Iraqi kingdom in 1921, where assisted in appearing the translation at the elite level in universities, ministries, institutions, courts, and companies. The real widespread of interpretation began after 2003. Exactly, after the occupation of Iraq by the international coalition forces led by the United States of America, which led to the deployment of more than 150,000 individuals in Iraq, those who were not able to speak Arabic, while their mission supposed to be in direct contact with Iraqis. They thought that their task in interpretation and communication with Iraqis would be solved by modern technology, but they were surprised that high-cost modern translation devices were unfunctional. Therefore, they had forwarded to the Iraqi citizens to be their mediator; they had contracted with large, numerous and local interpreters. However, they couldn’t deal with this issue easily, due to its sensitive relationship among many Iraqis who were rejecting and resisting the American occupation. During that period, the profession of translators was subjected to the sense of sovereignty, betrayal, and patriotism in Iraq. In spite of the difficulties, the experience was productive. There are many lessons that can be studied and learned from it, the most important of which are the birth of a new generation of young interpreters, as well as the attention among young people to learn languages and practice professional translation. Therefore, many of those who worked as translators continued their studies and obtained the highest educational grades in translation and other language topics.