Arabic Translation Services

The fifth most spoken language on the planet, Arabic is a language rich in history, culture, and variation. From its classical form (which is primarily used in religious contexts) to the standardized form taught in schools (Modern Standard Arabic—MSA) to the more than thirty regional dialects and variations that characterize the language across different areas of the Middle East and northern Africa, it’s fair to say that Arabic is one of the more complex languages to work with in terms of language services. Experienced and professional translators and interpreters are key, as is a deep knowledge of the regional and cultural touchpoints that distinguish formality, vocabulary, and phrasing across different settings and contexts.

Whereas written and spoken English are virtually identical, in Arabic, the written and spoken forms of the language often vary dramatically. Writing, which is learned in school, often adheres to MSA, while the dialect of Arabic spoken at home or in the community may actually be completely different—possibly even mutually unintelligible. For this reason, it’s important not to just broadly communicate in written or spoken MSA, as this may result in communication that is overly formal, stilted, or even nonsensical. Instead, a talented translator will be able to adjust and tailor their work to the form of Arabic that will resonate most effectively with your target audience.

At CanTalk, all of our Arabic translators are highly qualified and experienced. Familiar with the complexities that distinguish Arabic language services, they can lend a professional eye to the unique requirements of your Arabic language project.

Who We Are

CanTalk, located in Winnipeg, is recognized as a highly versatile, experienced, and fully integrated language service centre. Providing immediate access to real-time language support in more than 220 languages 24/7, 365 days a year, we offer seamless language services and applications for clients in the North American and global marketplaces.

With a closed-loop technology and internal server infrastructure, CanTalk maintains total control of its clients’ data and mitigates the potential risk of data interference. Unlike many other language service providers, we do not rely on third-party outsourcers.

At CanTalk, our pool of highly trained Arabic translators and interpreters must meet the highest standards to continue working for us. Ongoing training, professionalism, and regular vetting by our quality assurance team are all conditions of their employment with CanTalk and you can implicitly trust their services to bring your Arabic language project to life.

Our Services & Expertise

CanTalk offers customized language services to meet the exacting needs of every client. From one-time document translations (such as a birth certificate or academic transcript) to long-term, multi-layered language endeavours that require careful planning, coordination, and finesse, we can accommodate.

Our standard services include:

Pricing & Turnaround Time

At CanTalk, we pride ourselves on meeting the demands of your language service needs. In most cases, we can connect you with an interpreter in less than one minute and complete written translations within a few hours. But, of course, these estimates depend on the scope and nature of the project at hand.

For customized pricing and time estimates, we encourage you to reach out to us directly at CanTalk. One of our team members will be happy to consider your exact needs and create a personal quote for your project.

Industries

  • Legal – Specific legal needs such as contracts, court proceedings, or certified translations? We can connect you with an Arabic translation with expertise in the legal field.
  • Medical – When you or a loved one is ill or has experienced an emergency is not the time to be held back by language barriers. CanTalk can help.
  • Financial – From financial document translation to presentations, written communications, and in-person appointments, one of our certified Arabic translators will be happy to accommodate your language needs in the financial sector.
  • Life Sciences – Academic research, biomedical technology, healthcare marketing, pharmaceuticals, and more can all benefit from superior Arabic translation and localization services.
  • Entertainment – Expand into the Arabic-speaking market with Arabic voice-overs, in-person interpretation, script translation, subtitling, and more.
  • Business – Connect in meaningful ways with your partners and competitors alike as you find your foothold in the Arabic business landscape. Our translators are ready and waiting!
  • Hospitality & Travel – Draw Arabic-speaking tourists to your hospitality or travel based business with written content that is easily accessible to them—signs, brochures, websites, audio tours, videos, and more.
  • Government – The applications of Arabic translation in governments (or government agencies) are almost endless. From immigration to outreach, website localization, hiring, diplomatic relations, and emergency relief, CanTalk’s professional Arabic translators are experienced and ready to serve.

For professional Arabic translation services that will remove language barriers across any industry as if by magic, get in touch with CanTalk today!

Arabic Translation Tips

Formatting Implications

The fact that Arabic is written and read from right to left (instead of left to right, like English), means that formatting, page layout, and user interface considerations are paramount when translating from English to Arabic, or vice versa. Even visual elements such as logos, graphics, tables, and charts may need to be flipped to be comfortably interpreted by the intended audience.

Know Your Audience

Because the Arabic language varies greatly across the regions where it’s spoken and also between its standard written form and spoken vernacular in general, it’s crucial for your Arabic translator to understand your intended audience and tailor their work accordingly. Be sure to be specific about the location, formality, and context of the Arabic language project you’re working on to ensure it will be received as seamlessly as possible.

Popular Arabic Translation Words & Phrases

أهلاً (ahlaan) = Hi

وداعًا (wada’an) = Bye

أهلا وسهلا (‘ahlan vasahlan) = Welcome

شكرًا لك (shukran lak) = Thank you

العفو (al’afw) = You’re welcome

اعذرني (‘ouzurni) = Excuse me

Arabic Language Facts

  • Modern Standard Arabic is the official language in 22 countries and is the 5th most spoken language worldwide. There are more than 360 million native Arabic speakers around the globe.
  • Arabic is one of the six official languages of the United Nations.
  • Arabic doesn’t have any notable similarities to English and many of its sounds don’t exist in English.
  • Arabic is written and read from right to left (though numbers are read left to right).
  • There are more than 30 distinct Arabic dialects, many of which are mutually unintelligible.

Arabic Varieties & Dialects

Stretching across the Middle East and northern Africa, the regions where Arabic is spoken are vast and varied. While Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) is recognized as the version of the language used in schools, official settings, and for written communications, the dialects and variations of Arabic that are actually spoken in homes and communities across the Arabic-speaking world are markedly different.

Beyond MSA, the six most prevalent Arabic dialects include Egyptian Arabic, Sudanese Arabic, Levantine Arabic, Maghrebi Arabic, Mesopotamian Arabic, and Peninsular Arabic. But within each of these dialects exist many more regional and cultural variations. Linguists consider thirty distinct Arabic dialects to be a conservative estimate of the true number that actually exist, many of which are mutually unintelligible.

Also worth noting is that liturgical or classical Arabic, which is used in religious Muslim texts and settings, is extremely different from colloquial Arabic heard on the street. Simply writing or speaking SMA or classical Arabic will not resonate with the majority of target audiences or be appropriate in most contexts. To localize vocabulary and phrasing in meaningful ways, it’s important for a translator to understand the context, location, and intended audience of the message they are communicating.

For nuanced Arabic translation services that will help you reach your target audience with clarity and precision, trust CanTalk’s professional Arabic translators. Contact CanTalk today!