Translators’ exodus due to lack of organic status and specialized colleges, experts

Translators are massively leaving Algeria to work in the lucrative gulf region, to flee the bad working conditions in the country.

In fact, the translation domain in Algeria is still lagging behind; translators work without any organic status.

In this regard, Mr Mohamed Sari, a professional translator, said the majority of problems hampering the translation in Algeria are resulting from the indifference of competent authorities, either in terms of providing financial support or when it comes to purchasing rights from the owners.

Mr Sari further pointed to the weak role of publishing houses, which do neither make enough efforts to purchase the rights of translated books nor to distribute the works.

He further indicated that the lack of professional translators in Algeria is due to the lack of specialized colleges in translation, in addition to low recompenses attributed to translations, something that does not encourage breaking through professionalism. 

However, Dr Said Boutadjine believes that translators should work for installing their own organic law, which could protect their rights and cite their duties. Mr Boutadjine, who is a writer and translator, further added that there should be a national strategy of translation and marketing translated works. Otherwise, translators would keep on leaving the country to seek better work conditions in the gulf region, where lucrative projects are emerging, he concluded.