By Guido Zebisch*

ARABTERM is a quadrilingual technical dictionary offering glossaries in German, English and French and especially, the translation of terms along with an illustrated definition in Arabic (www.arabterm.org). The project is jointly commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO).

As an online dictionary, www.arabterm.org  is allowing a shortcut into the internet age for:

• Teachers within the academic, vocational and training sector
• Technical specialists and executive managers, line managers
• Technicians, engineers
• Education planning specialists

It is also catering to the needs of students, apprentices and trainees, linguists and translators, technical journalists, within and beyond universities and industries.

This multidisciplinary project combines linguistic and translation efforts with aims of creating opportunities of knowledge transfer for key technologies that have been identified as vital with regard to more sustainable absorption within the Arab world. Its main objective is to close the gap by providing concise Arabic-language definitions of latest technologies, hitherto unavailable in Arabic.

ARABTERM contains uploaded volumes on Water Technology (7056 terms), Automotive Engineering (4777 terms), Renewable Energies (4746 terms), Electrical Engineering (2872 terms), Textile Industries (455 terms) and Transport and Infrastructure (180 terms). Further content is under preparation. We expand according to sectors’ needs.

As a tool of standard reference, ARABTERM is meant to be used in a wide range of fields, from legal consulting as well as hands-on-mechanics. Access to updated knowledge and expertise for users in the Arab world is facilitated, and it might serve as a basis for the consistent translation of textbooks, curricula, technical manuals in diverse educational contexts, especially vocational, and for any training program.

This will enhance conceptual understanding, regional expertise and dialogue across an entire region, and pave the way for a more qualified workforce in future dynamic work contexts, e.g. Green Jobs.

We need an avalanche effect, helping to pass the online dictionary on to everyone’s clients www.arabterm.org!

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