Ghadeer Haider Saeed

The novel is no longer merely a means of entertainment or storytelling; it has become a space for expressing human and existential issues, as well as a tool for transmitting ideas between cultures. Translation has played a pivotal role in the development of the modern Arabic novel, as it introduced Arab writers to innovative narrative techniques and opened wide humanistic horizons. Here, the concept of cultural sustainability emerges as a guarantee for the continuity of interaction between Arabic literature and its global counterparts, contributing to enriching the Arabic novel and making it more connected to issues of human and social development.
Translation as a Tool for Cultural Sustainability
Translation represents a process of revitalization and renewal. It brings global experiences into the Arabic language and grants the Arabic novel the capacity for continuous renewal by exposing it to global narrative patterns. This renewal is a form of intellectual sustainability, keeping Arabic literature aligned with global transformations without interruption.
The Impact of Translation on Structure and Themes
Translation has introduced narrative styles such as realism, symbolism, and the stream of consciousness, providing the Arabic novel with artistic flexibility capable of continuity and evolution. Translation has also carried humanistic themes such as social justice, freedom, and humanity’s relationship with nature—topics that intersect with the goals of sustainability in its environmental and social dimensions.
The Arabic Novel and Sustainability Issues
With exposure to translated novels addressing issues such as the environment, poverty, women’s rights, and migration, Arab writers have gained a deeper awareness of the necessity to incorporate these issues into their texts. Some modern Arabic novels have embodied environmental and social dimensions, making the novel a partner in promoting a culture of sustainability. Thus, translation performs a dual function: developing the art of the novel and raising societal awareness of its critical issues.
Conclusion
Translation has not merely been a factor in the development of the modern Arabic novel; it has become a channel for achieving cultural and intellectual sustainability and ensuring the presence of Arabic literature in an open human dialogue with the world. It has also expanded the scope of the Arabic novel to include sustainability issues, turning literature into a means for building collective awareness that links creativity with responsibility toward humanity, the environment, and the future.