A translation into arabic of Ronald Sutherland's second image: comparative studies in Québec/Canadian literature with an introduction to the text comprising linguistic and cultural parallels and differences between Canada and the Arab world that bear directly on this translation

Abstract

My dissertation aims at contributing in an immediately practical fashion to a trans-cultural dialogue and broader understanding between Canada and the Arab world. The trans-lation of Ronald Sutherland's Second Image: Comparative Studies in Quebec/Canadian Literature will fan an already lively interest in Canadian and Australian literatures, as well as the literature produced by the third world coun-tries, in Lebanon and other countries of the Arab world. There are parallels in the political and cultural tensions in Canada and in Lebanon, which are reflected in the litera-tures of the two countries, parallels which Sutherland's book should bring to the mind of the Arabic-speaking reader. Indeed, even the local controversies aroused by Sutherland's study are certain to suggest to the knowledgeable reader of Arabic literature controversies of a similar nature in the literary milieu of Lebanon and the Arab world more general-ly. There is no question that Second Image can contribute to a fuller understanding of the Canadian literatures among Arabic readers, but chances are it will do more: it will generate a shock of recognition in minds that had not antic-ipated it, thereby contributing in some degree to interna-tional understanding. Secondarily, the exercise of trans-lating Second Image illuminates some of the problems of comparative literature and translation.