Historical Novel English Arabic Translation
Budget: $250 – $750 USD
I have a steadily growing catalogue of English-language historical fiction novels that the Abjad Foundation will publish locally in Iraq. To move forward, I need a literary translator who can render each book into fluent, culturally resonant Arabic suitable for print. The tone, cadence and period detail of the original text all matter—readers should feel they are holding an Arabic novel, not a literal word-for-word copy.
Your background in creative or literary translation is key, especially if you have handled Middle-Eastern‐set stories or Ottoman-era material before. Sensitivity to Iraqi idioms is a plus, but Modern Standard Arabic that flows naturally will satisfy print requirements; we have in-house editors for final localisation tweaks.
What I will supply:
• A clean, rights-cleared English manuscript (docx or PDF)
• A short glossary of recurring names, places and historical terms
• My layout team’s style sheet (pagination, chapter breaks, typography cues)
What I need back:
• A fully translated Word document mirroring the source structure
• A brief translator’s note flagging any culturally ambiguous terms you adapted
• One revision round after our in-house proof pass
Acceptance criteria:
1. Smooth, idiomatic Arabic that preserves character voice and historical flavour.
2. Chapter and paragraph breaks identical to the source.
3. Fewer than five style-sheet deviations on first delivery.
We publish on a rolling schedule, so reliable delivery and clear communication are more important than speed alone. If this first novel goes well there are many more waiting in our pipeline. Let me know your typical pace per 80,000-word manuscript and attach one sample of comparable work.
Your background in creative or literary translation is key, especially if you have handled Middle-Eastern‐set stories or Ottoman-era material before. Sensitivity to Iraqi idioms is a plus, but Modern Standard Arabic that flows naturally will satisfy print requirements; we have in-house editors for final localisation tweaks.
What I will supply:
• A clean, rights-cleared English manuscript (docx or PDF)
• A short glossary of recurring names, places and historical terms
• My layout team’s style sheet (pagination, chapter breaks, typography cues)
What I need back:
• A fully translated Word document mirroring the source structure
• A brief translator’s note flagging any culturally ambiguous terms you adapted
• One revision round after our in-house proof pass
Acceptance criteria:
1. Smooth, idiomatic Arabic that preserves character voice and historical flavour.
2. Chapter and paragraph breaks identical to the source.
3. Fewer than five style-sheet deviations on first delivery.
We publish on a rolling schedule, so reliable delivery and clear communication are more important than speed alone. If this first novel goes well there are many more waiting in our pipeline. Let me know your typical pace per 80,000-word manuscript and attach one sample of comparable work.