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Language Fact File: Arabic

Spoken in: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Yemen – and more!

Number of native speakers: Approximately 456 million.

Learn some: The most common greeting you will hear is ‘as-salaam alaykum’, meaning ‘peace be upon you’. The response to this is ‘wa alaykum as-salaam’, which means ‘and peace be upon you’. These are traditionally religious greetings, exchanged between Muslims. If you prefer, you can use the generic ‘ahlan’, which just means ‘hi’.

Interesting facts:

• Arabic is a very romantic language. As well as being known for its poetic tradition and flowery prose, there are at least 14 words to describe love – some say even more! They describe the subtly different stages of falling for someone, from the initial physical attraction, al hawa, all the way through to the feeling that you have found a soulmate, al kholla, or ‘unification’. Translators of Arabic poetry do not have an easy task on their hands!
• While Arabic is known as one language, there are at least 30 varieties. This is because it is so widely spoken that different countries and regions have developed their own dialects. Often, Arabic speakers from different parts of the world will revert to Modern Standard Arabic, so that they can understand each other. This is based on the Egyptian dialect.
• Learning Arabic is good for your brain! A 2010 study revealed that people reading Arabic use both sides of their brain simultaneously, unlike any other language, as far as we know. This may be down to the complexity of the language and how it is written.

The Language Shop (tls) provides interpreting and translation support in Arabic. Ask your account manager if you would like more information.

by Jo Parker

The Linguists' Story (tls): Osama Hassan, Arabic interpreter

At The Language Shop (tls), we are proud of the fact that the work we do for public sector organisations and charities has a significant impact on the lives of vulnerable people who otherwise would not be able to access vital health, education and justice services.

In our regular feature, ‘The Linguists’ Story’, we get to know tls interpreters and translators and find out how they’ve helped those in need. This month (September 2023) we meet Osama Hassan, an Arabic interpreter:

Tell us about the work you do for TLS.

I interpret between Arabic and English, which is more complicated than it sounds as there are a lot of Arabic dialects! My mother tongue is the Sudanese variety, but I can use other varieties also. Dialects can even vary within a country, so I always remind new customers about the varieties of Arabic.

What's been your favourite project at TLS?

No one project but I really enjoy working in mental health, and most of my work is in this area now. It is something that fascinates me, and I can draw on my past experiences working for a charity.

What has been your biggest challenge?

At first it was time management, but that has got much easier as I have got more experienced. I would say now it is dealing with service users’ trauma. A lot of people have come from war zones and lived through terrible things. I am from Sudan and I understand what they have gone through. Some service users can be emotional and behave in challenging ways.

If you didn’t do your current job, what would you like to do?

When I started working as an interpreter, I thought it would be a temporary job but as time has gone on, I have got comfortable with it. If I wasn’t doing this, I would like to go back to working with unemployed people, helping them into work.

Tell us something interesting about you.

I used to play football and now I love watching it – even though my team, Arsenal, was robbed of a goal at the weekend! I read a lot too - I'm really interested in science.

What are your ambitions for the next 12 months?

I just want to keep doing what I’m doing – working hard.

If you are a tls linguist and would like to be profiled, or know someone else who would, please get in touch by emailing samantha.oates@newham.gov.uk.

by Jo Parker

Language Fact File: Greek

Spoken in: Greece, Greek Cyprus, Southern Albania, Calabria and Salento (Italy)and other regions of the Balkans, Black Sea coast, Asia Minor and Eastern Mediterranean.

Number of native speakers: 13.5 million

Learn some: Greet your Greek friends in the morning with ‘καλημέρα!’ (kalimera) and in the evening with ‘καλησπέρα!’ (kalispera).

Interesting facts:

• The longest word in Greek has a whopping 185 characters! It is ‘lopado­temacho­selacho­galeo­kranio­leipsano­drim­hypo­trimmato­silphio­parao­melito­katakechy­meno­kichl­epi­kossypho­phatto­perister­alektryon­opte­kephallio­kigklo­peleio­lagoio­siraio­baphe­tragano­pterygon’, a fictional dish created by the writer Aristophenes in 391BC. It is the longest word ever to appear in literature.
• Greek is one of the oldest languages in Europe. There are written records of the language dating back 3,400 years. Its alphabet formed the basis for the Latin, Cyrillic and Coptic alphabets – and in fact, the word ‘alphabet’ is from the Greek ‘alpha’ and ‘beta’, the first two letters.
• Greek is the only language in its category, the Hellenic category. This is very unusual; even the small Celtic category, for example, has four in the group (Manx, Irish, Scottish and Welsh). This means that, despite being such a huge influence in Europe, there are no languages similar to Greek.

The Language Shop (tls) provides support in any language you may need, including many of the rarer ones. Please speak to your account manager about your requirements.

by Language Shop

The Linguists' Story (tls): Alessandra Jácome, Brazilian Portuguese interpreter

At The Language Shop (tls), we are proud of the fact that the work we do for public sector organisations and charities has a significant impact on the lives of vulnerable people who otherwise would not be able to access vital health, education and justice services.

In our regular feature, ‘The Linguists’ Story’, we get to know tls interpreters and translators and find out how they’ve helped those in need. This month (September 2023) we meet Alessandra Jácome, a Brazilian Portuguese interpreter:

Tell us about the work you do for TLS.

I've been working for tls as a Brazilian Portuguese interpreter for 8 years in different areas of London.

What has been your biggest challenge?

As a Brazilian Portuguese interpreter I believe our challenge is to adjust to different dialects. I am originally from Brazil but I am still always learning about how different cultures influence a variety of vocabulary.

Can you tell us about a time your work has made a difference to someone’s life?

It's obvious that being a non-English speaker in the UK for many people is not always comfortable so it's nice to be able to diminish the anguish of those who count on us, interpreters, to sort out their daily issues in a confidential way.

If you didn’t do your current job, what would you like to do?

As a hobby I do sewing and knitting. When I was younger my dream was to become a dressmaker. I guess I still have time to fulfil that dream!

Tell us something interesting about you.

I'm learning the Italian language now as I'm also an Italian citizen. I'm learning it through its cuisine as I love the simple and tasty Italian way of cooking. But Brazilian cuisine is definitely still the one for me.

What are your ambitions for the next 12 months?

My goal is to be a fluent Italian speaker so I can expand my language skills even further.

If you are a tls linguist and would like to be profiled, or know someone else who would, please get in touch by emailing zainub.patel@newham.gov.uk.

by Language Shop

The Linguists' Story (tls): Florence Vandam, freelance remote interpreter

At The Language Shop (tls), we are proud of the fact that the work we do for public sector organisations and charities has a significant impact on the lives of vulnerable people who otherwise would not be able to access vital health, education and justice services.

In our regular feature, ‘The Linguists’ Story’, we get to know tls interpreters and translators and find out how they’ve helped those in need. This month (September 2023) we meet Florence Vandam, a freelance remote interpreter in Spanish, French and English:

What's been your favourite project at TLS?

My favourite project has been working in sexual therapy, as it was a completely new territory for me and a very interesting subject, but I like all projects as TLS is the most organised interpreting agency I know.

What has been your biggest challenge?

A common challenge is when the service provider or client has an old phone/laptop where the sound is not that great anymore, or their connection is not stable, or if someone is quite antsy and moves around while they speak, it can affect the sound/connection on their side as well.

If you didn’t do your current job, what would you like to do?

I really like my current job because I like knowing that my work helps people, so I think I would be a therapist. I have a keen interest in Jungian therapy and CBT. I also love music. I play guitar and ukulele, and know so many lyrics by heart, in English, French, Spanish, but also some in Portuguese, Italian and German! I have a knack for parroting it seems. So maybe a musician. But I can still do that in my spare time anyway!

Tell us something interesting about you.

My mother is Argentinian and my father is French, and I grew up in both countries, so I can speak both languages to a native standard!

If you could meet someone, living or dead, who would it be and why?

Although there are many famous figures whose work I admire, there isn't anybody I would like to meet in particular. Most if not all questions about them, personal or professional, have already been answered. All humans are interesting in my opinion, famous or not, so I am eager to keep meeting people of all walks of life!

What are your ambitions for the next 12 months?

On a professional level, I would like to continue working for TLS, and would also like to complete a DipTrans qualification to be able to get more translation work as well. I am looking into Cousera too, to see if there is anything that I can learn about that relates to interpreting or translation in some way, so it can open more doors for me to be able to help even more people.

On a personal level, I am currently reducing my thyroid medication by changing my lifestyle and would like to reach a point where I can live without the need for any medication at all. After that, I would like to write and record an album!

If you are a tls linguist and would like to be profiled, or know someone else who would, please get in touch by emailing zainub.patel@newham.gov.uk.

by Language Shop