Having difficulties understanding German or English terminology? Sick of not finding adequate terms in Arabic? Visit www.arabterm.org to see how it can benefit you.
ARABTERM is a technical online dictionary in four languages that aims to provide unified, modern, and specialized Arabic terminology. Two volumes in Automotive Engineering and water technology are already available on the website and further volumes in different technical fields, such as renewable energies, will follow. The dictionary provides terms in Arabic, English, German, and French and contains the detailed explanation in Arabic as well as illustrations when applicable.
The ARABTERM project is funded by the BMZ (German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development) and implemented by the BCA (Arabization Coordination Bureau) on behalf of ALECSO, and the GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) in collaboration with the Goethe Institute Cairo and the German Jordanian University.
The fact that the ARABTERM dictionary is online, free of charge, very specialized, user-friendly, and interactive makes it an extremely useful tool for people in a multilingual environment who depend on technical terminology in their work or studies.
The GJU was chosen as a partner for the project because it ideally acts as a bridge between the Arab World and Germany. Also, the fact that the GJU relies on the English language in contrast to the French used in Morocco, where the project’s central office is located, ensures that ARABTERM has capable partners in its four operational languages.
Based on a cooperation agreement and a series of ARABTERM-GJU meetings in 2011 and 2012, an ARABTERM office was set up at the university in the School of Languages to support the project’s headquarters in Rabat. The ARABTERM team on campus is composed of GJU graduates Nicole Zarzar and Zain Abu Taleb who work under the supervision of the GJU Knowledge Management Advisor, Gudrun Schmidt.
The GJU team and a GIZ/BCA team cooperate across distances on editorial tasks pertaining to the project. In 2012 the team traveled to the Moroccan capital Rabat on three occasions to participate in workshops with the GIZ, BCA, and other ARABTERM partners. Between the workshops, the ARABTERM partners communicate via e-mail, Skype, and videoconferencing. Most recently, the ARABTERM project’s first newsletter* was released.
Furthermore, the GJU team is also responsible for marketing the project as well as for building up and maintaining a network of potential partners and promoters in the region. In January the team participated in the Arab Water Week conference and exhibition organized by ACWUA and plans to attend several other events in the coming months.
The ARABTERM team would be pleased to present the project to interested schools and departments at GJU. You can find the ARABTERM office at GJU in room F001. Or you can reach us by email at arabterm@gju.edu.jo with your questions or comments.
*To receive the ARABTERM newsletter, send us an e-mail with the word “subscribe” in the subject field and you will be added to the mailing list.
