5 November, 2009: San Francisco, United States and Toronto, Canada
Today, Meedan, is releasing the first publicly available open licensed Arabic/English Translation Memory (TM). This release comes as a part of Meedan's ongoing commitment to improving the state of Arabic language machine processing research and supporting translators and machine translation researchers.
The new translation memory, called MeedanMemory, contains around one million words in aligned Arabic and English sentence pairs. It constitutes an invaluable resource for translation professionals, Arabic linguistic researchers, academics and volunteer communities, and is the first translation memory of such size and sophistication to be released under an open access license.
MeedanMemory is packaged as a standards-compliant Translation Memory Exchange (TMX) file, which facilitates its integration with most computer assisted translation tools and translation memory managers.
Professional translators can utilize MeedanMemory to support their translation work and improving its efficiency, and to increase consistency and quality in the translation outcome. Researchers can use this resource in designing and implementing their research activities into Arabic computer linguistics and machine language processing, which will lead to the development of better text search engines and document analysis tools and applications. And community organizations, non-profits and volunteer communities can leverage MeedanMemory to facilitate translation between Arabic and English of the content they produce for lower costs, lower turnaround times and higher quality.
The MeedanMemory is released under the Open Database License, which permits the use, copy and distribution of the translation memory, produce work using it, and to modify, transform and build upon the translation memory.
Meedan is pleased to announce this first release of MeedanMemory, and will continue to release data generated from the Meedan translation community into this open repository. We also hope that other organizations will contribute to the growth of this unique and valuable resource for the Arabic language and Arabic digital content that holds great potential for supporting Arabic content projects and initiatives.
To download your copy of MeedanMemory, please visit: http://github.com/anastaw/Meedan-Memory
For more information about MeedanMemory, please contact: info@meedan.net
Meedan Cross-language Arabic-English Social Networking: beta.meedan.net
About Meedan:
Meedan (Arabic for ‘town square') is a social media and technology non-profit. Our mission is to promote the exchange of knowledge, media, and conversations across linguistic and cultural divides, with an initial focus on Arabic-English collaborations. We serve end-users interested in media exchange through our public-facing http://beta.meedan.net site, and we provide a social networking, knowledge exchange, and web-based translation platform to a network of NGO partners. The Meedan project was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 2006. Based in San Francisco, our distributed team of Meedanis contribute engineering, design, and translation services to our project from Cairo, Damascus, London, Beirut, the West Bank, Doha, Gaza, Jeddah, Rabat, Amman, Toronto, and Portland.
Meedan is a leading advocate for open linguistic data and open source tools and is innovating approaches to social translation, data aggregation, data visualization, and tagging in the context of Arab Region use cases.
]]>What is the Model Arab League?
Since its founding in 1983, Model Arab League has been the leading program in the United States for giving students hands-on experience with the regional and international politics of the Arab World. Tens of thousands of students have graduated from the program, and many have gone on to leading positions in business, government, and academia. During this upcoming school year more than 2,000 students representing over 220 schools will participate in the University and High School Model programs.
A highly competitive academic activity, the Model Arab League simulates meetings of the League of Arab States. Participating delegations become diplomats for the weekend and represent one of the League’s 22 member states in both general and specialized councils. Students draft resolutions addressing the important regional and global issues outlined in an Agenda that closely mirrors real world Arab League issues. These resolutions are debated in moderated council sessions following rules of parliamentary procedure. If passed, these council resolutions are presented to the entire conference during a Summit Session for closing debate and a final vote.
What do students gain from competing in the Model Arab League?
The Model Arab League provides students an in-depth understanding of the world’s oldest regional body and deepens their knowledge of the history, culture, religion, economics, and politics of both their assigned country and the region as a whole. Through active participation in a model, students develop and sharpen skills in debate, consensus-building, critical thinking, parliamentary procedure, and public speaking. By arguing the positions and foreign policy objectives of the Arab States, model participants gain personal insights and a meaningful understanding of the issues underlying U.S.-Arab relations.
Throughout a model, participants are evaluated both their peers and by judges. Awards are presented to outstanding participants based on their individual accomplishment and overall team achievement. In addition to our awards, outstanding Model Arab League participants are given preferential consideration for National Council internships in Washington, D.C. and for participation in our study abroad programs to Egypt, Morocco, Kuwait, and Yemen.
Where do Model Arab Leagues take place?
There are currently 10 University and 2 High School Model Arab League simulations across the country. In addition, a National University Model and a National High School Model are held in Washington D.C.
Can I get my school involved in Model Arab League?
Absolutely! Starting a team does not have to be overwhelming. Some teams function as small student clubs while others exist within school sponsored organizations with year round activities. You might even find your school able to offer course credit for participating. Please feel free to browse our Web site or contact the National Council for more information and suggestions on how to start a team.
How do I prepare for the Model Arab League?
As a start, the National Council’s Web site, http://www.ncusar.org/modelarableague, contains many helpful resources. From our site you can obtain the Model Arab League Handbook, which contains our rules of parliamentary procedure, links to help you begin your research, and topic guides provided by the secretariat of the National University Model. You should also consult your faculty advisor on where to locate resources with current information on your assigned country’s background and major foreign policy objectives.
(Ann Arbor, MI) - Professor Daphne Barak-Erez, a visiting professor of law from Tel Aviv University, will be coming to Ann Arbor to speak about the evolution of women’s rights in Israel. She will explore the basic tensions concerning gender equality in Israel in a way that will reflect current legal challenges as well as different feminist ideologies among Israeli women. She will present a keynote speech on Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 7:00 PM in the Vandenberg Room at the Michigan League. The speech will be titled, "Evolving Equality: Women’s Rights in Israel."
Prof. Daphne Barak-Erez is a Stewart and Judy Colton professor of law and the chair of law and security at the faculty of law. She currently serves as the Director of the Cegla Center for Interdisciplinary Research of the Law and a member of the Council of Higher Education in Israel, a member of the American Law Institute, and a member of the International Academy of Comparative Law. Her main areas of interests are Administrative and Constitutional Law, Comparative Law, Privatization, Legal Feminism, Israeli Legal History. She is the author of several books and many articles and the recipient of such prestigious honors as including the Rector’s Prize for Excellence in Teaching, the Zeltner Prize, the Woman of the City Award (by the City of Tel-Aviv) and the Women in Law Award (by the Israeli Bar).
This event is hosted and sponsored by the American Movement for Israel.
This event is funded by American Movement for Israel, Michigan Student Assembly, LSA Student Government, and the Ginsberg Center for Community Service and Learning.*
This event is supported by the F Word, Society of Women Engineers, Women and Gender in Public Policy, Women in Health Leadership, the Feminist Toolshed, Women Law Students Association, Michigan Business Women, the Institute for Research on Women and Gender, Hebrew and Jewish Cultural Studies, Center for International and Comparative Law, the Frankel Center for Judaic Studies, Center for Middle East Studies, and the Women’s Studies Department.
*Funds are provided by the Ginsberg Center to help raise awareness and discussion of these issues on campus. The viewpoints expressed therein do not necessarily reflect those of the Ginsberg Center or its programs.
]]>Two types of CASA fellowships are available for advanced Arabic language study at the American University in Cairo and Damascus University:
1) Summer-Only Fellowships (Cairo only: June 4, 2010-July 26, 2010): These fellowships allow students to participate in an intensive seven-week summer language and culture program that includes 10 weekly hours of Egyptian Colloquial Arabic & 8 hours of Modern Standard Arabic plus a weekly tour in Arabic.
2) Full-Year Fellowships (Cairo: June 4, 2010-May 21, 2011): These provide intensive language & culture training in Egyptian Colloquial or Syrian Colloquial and Modern Standard Arabic for three semesters and allow students in the spring semester to take courses in Arabic in their respective areas of specialization.
Succesfull applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents; enrolled in a graduate or undergraduate program or in between their undergraduate and graduate study; committed to a career in Middle Eastern Studies; have had a minimum of 2-3 years of college-level Arabic language study, and pass the CASA Selection exam which will be administered to all applicants at a school in their locality on Friday, February 5, 2010. Please note that non-U.S. citizens are also welcome to apply to CASA, and if accepted, may participate on a Pay-Your-Own-Way basis.
The CASA fellowship award covers round-trip airfare, tuition, and a maintenance allowance of approximately $500 per month.
APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR 2010-2011 PROGRAMS IS JANUARY 8, 2009
For detailed descriptions of the CASA programs, or to download application forms, please visit the CASA web site at: http://www.utexas.edu/cola/centers/casa/
]]>2010-2011 Program for Post-CASA Language Study & Arabic-Based Research in Cairo, Egypt
The CASA II program aims to further opportunities for CASA fellows, who have completed the CASA Full-Year program within the past five years, to continue to enhance their language skills and advance their Arabic-based research in Egypt.
The CASA II program offers the opportunity to study for one or two semesters (Fall or Spring or both) at the American University in Cairo. The program is meant to be flexible so as to cater to the individual linguistic and research needs of each CASA II fellow. Individual academic programs for each CASA fellow will be designed in close consultation between the fellow and the CASA Executive Director in Cairo.
Each CASA II fellow is expected to enroll in three tutorials per semester. These tutorials can be in any of the language skills or in the fellow's own field of specialization. In addition, CASA II fellows are welcome to enroll in any of the regular CASA classes that are offered during the fall and spring semesters as part of their CASA II program. CASA II fellows are also expected to participate in and contribute to the full range of activities of the CASA program.
Requirements:
To qualify for a CASA II fellowship, the successful applicant must have completed the CASA Full-Year program within the past five years and must be enrolled in a graduate program in Arabic/Middle Eastern Studies. Former CASA fellows who graduated more than five years ago may apply for a CASA II fellowship but they must take the CASA Entrance Exam to assess their current level of proficiency in Arabic.
Each applicant must complete the CASA II application form and provide all supporting documents.
Each applicant is expected to pay a non-refundable program fee of $825 per semester ($1,100 per semester for fellows from non-CASA Consortium schools).
Similar to other CASA programs, applicants to CASA II have the option of applying on a Pay-Your-Own-Way basis if they have other sources of funding.
For detailed descriptions of the CASA programs, or to download application application forms, please visit the CASA web site at: http://www.utexas.edu/cola/centers/casa/
Application deadline for 2010-2011 programs is January 8, 2010
]]>The Center for Arabic Study Abroad (CASA), offers fellowships for professors of the humanities and social sciences whose specialties focus on any aspect of the Arab World/Middle East. The CASA III fellowships are intended for professors who are interested in further advancing their proficiency in Arabic and for those who wish to undertake research in Arabic materials under the supervision of a specialist.
Applicants must have a level of competence in Arabic of Advanced or above according to the ACTFL Proficiency Guidlines (equivalent to at least three years of study at the college level.) An oral proficiency phone interview in Arabic will be conducted with each applicant to determine her/his level of proficiency. Applicants must be U.S. citizens. Non-U.S. citizens and permanent residents may apply to participate in this program on a Pay-Your-Own Way basis.
The CASA III fellowship award covers round-trip airfare, tuition, and a maintenance allowance of the Egyptian equivalent of approximately $1250 per month, plus an educational supplies allowance.
For a detailed description of the CASA III program, or to download application forms, please visit the CASA web site at: http://www.utexas.edu/cola/centers/casa/
Application deadline for 2010-2011 programs is January 8, 2010
]]>Major topics of discussion will include:
* SM-3/AEGIS: Overview and Key Issues for the Navy
* SM-3/AEGIS: Operational Capabilities Panel
* Threat Assessment: Forecasts and Timeline
* Theater Defense & Extended Deterrence
- North Atlantic/Arctic
- Asia (North Korea, Taiwan Straits)
- Middle East (Iran)
* Legal/Diplomatic/Economic: UNCLOS, START, ABM Treaty, NATO
This conference will be held on Wednesday, December 2nd and Thursday, December 3rd in Marshall Hall, Room 155, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, DC.
To register, please complete a brief web form at http://www.ndu.edu/CTNSP/Event_Registration/register.cfm. Registrants will begin receiving regular news of the event and additional logistical details as they become available. Agenda will be posted on the program website at http://www.ndu.edu/CTNSP/NCW_course.htm.
]]>The Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC) Multi-Country Fellowship Program supports advanced regional or trans-regional research in the humanities, social sciences, or allied natural sciences for U.S. doctoral candidates and scholars who have already earned their Ph.D. Preference will be given to candidates examining comparative and/or cross-regional research. Applicants are eligible to apply as individuals or in teams.
Approximately ten awards of up to $10,000 each will be given to scholars who wish to carry out research on broad questions of multi-country significance in the fields of humanities, social sciences, and related natural sciences. Scholars must carry out research in two or more countries outside the United States, at least one of which hosts a participating American overseas research center. Given changing travel restrictions and/or security warnings to many countries, applicants should contact CAORC before preparing a proposal.
Deadline: Friday, January 15, 2010
For more details and application, please see http://www.caorc.org/programs/multi.htm
]]>Middlebury College is pleased to announce The Kathryn Davis Fellowships for Peace: Investing in the Study of Critical Languages. These 100 fellowships are made possible by a generous gift from Kathryn Davis to address today’s critical need for increased language proficiency in the United States.
For the fourth year in a row, 100 Davis Fellowships are offered to cover the full cost of summer language study from beginner to graduate levels in Arabic, Chinese, Hebrew, Japanese, Portuguese, and Russian at the Middlebury College Language Schools. Fellowship grants cover the full comprehensive fee (tuition, room, and board) at the Middlebury summer Language Schools.
The Davis Fellowships are merit-based and intended for exceptionally qualified individuals with demonstrated interest in one or more of the following areas: international, global, or area studies; international politics and economics; peace and security studies; and/or conflict resolution. Individuals in other fields, including working professionals, are also encouraged to apply if their field of expertise requires them to study one of the critical languages listed above.
ALL DAVIS FELLOWSHIP APPLICATIONS MUST BE POSTMARKED BY FEBRUARY 1, 2010.
To be considered for a Davis Fellowship, please submit:
1. A complete application for the Language School to which you are applying, also postmarked by February 1. Incomplete Language School applications will disqualify your candidacy for a Davis Fellowship, [Note: The application includes a non-refundable process fee of $65.00.]
2. Three copies of the coversheet.
3. Three copies of the one-page Davis Fellowship essay.
4. Three copies of a resume or curriculum vitae.
Download the application at http://www.middlebury.edu/NR/rdonlyres/3B030DC4-1404-4AC4-AE50-71B49778D868/0/KWD2010Webapp.pdf
Note: Davis Fellowship funds are limited and will be awarded on a competitive basis. Financial aid forms are not required for the Davis awards. However, students are encouraged to apply for regular Middlebury College financial aid, awarded on a demonstrated-need basis, through the office of financial aid. More information can be found at the Middlebury Language Schools Web site.
]]>The program covers a full year of Arabic for a total of 12 points in two four-week sessions.
Courses include:
Modern Standard Arabic, 10 points
- Level 1: Elementary Arabic II / Intermediate Arabic I
- Level 2: Intermediate Arabic I / Intermediate Arabic II
- Level 3: Intermediate Arabic II / Advanced Arabic I
- Level 4: Advanced Arabic I / Advanced Arabic II
Colloquial Jordanian / Levantine Arabic I-II, 2 points
Course-related field trips and cultural activities are organized to provide opportunities for students to strengthen their language skills and deepen their understanding of Arabic language, history, and culture. Sites to be visited may include Petra, the Dead Sea, Al-Aqaba, or Jarash. The program may also organize trips where students work with local communities on particular projects. Depending on student interest and proficiency level, placements in arts internships might also be available.
Please visit: http://ogp.columbia.edu/pages/noncolumbia_students/summer/amman/index.html for more information!
]]>This provides undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to gain valuable work experience in their field of study. All DIA interns must be U.S. citizens since successful candidates are granted acccess to Top Secret/Special Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) data.
This 10-week, paid program provides practical hands-on experience. This office assigns real world projects that will broaden the intern's knowledge of the Middle East through classified and open source research as well as through interaction with other anlysits. Students will also be assigned senior mentors. Some past interns have had their classified products complemented by the U.S. Secretaries of Defense and State.
The strategic purpose of the program is to identify candidates for future employment. The best interns receive permanent job offers contingent upon their graduation with an impressive academic record.
For more information about the program or how to apply, visit www.dia.mil or contact Mr. Roseal Fowlkes at 202-231-8228.
]]>Department of English Language and Literature, Cairo University
The Tenth International Symposium on Comparative Literature
December 7-9, 2010
“The Marginalized”
Deadline for abstracts: February 28, 2010
Replies will be posted by April 30, 2010
(No abstracts will be accepted after the deadline)
In a globalized world, which is, paradoxically, also a world of growing dissent, marginalized groups with diverse ideological mindsets are likely to emerge on various levels. Women find themselves at the periphery of an oppressive patriarchal society, ethnic groups endure diasporic mobility to flee political subjugation, and the wretched at the bottom of the social ladder lack their bare necessities, to mention but a few of the groups. In such instances, the marginalized is relegated to the periphery of the dominant authority, against which s/he struggles so as to assert his/her position.
The Symposium seeks to explore the dynamics of various marginalized voices, as it is concerned with what Bill Ashcroft et al. call “discourses of marginality.” It is interested in readings of marginality in both literary and linguistic studies. Papers submitted must be original, unpublished, and not previously presented at any other conference.
Proposed topics include, but are not restricted to, the following:
§ Literature of the diaspora
§ Resistance literature
§ Prison literature
§ Immigrant literature
§ Hybridity in language and literature
§ 'Englishes’
§ Gender studies
§ Oral literature
§ Children’s literature
§ New forms & the mainstream (e.g. graphic novels, blogs, e-literature, etc.)
§ Popular culture
§ Visual culture
Presentations may be in one of the following forms: papers (20 minutes), workshops (45 or 90 minutes), and poster sessions.
The languages of the Symposium are English and Arabic.
Fees:
USD 300 for non-Egyptian participants
LE 300 for Egyptian participants and foreign residents
The above fees include registration, 2 social and cultural events, and—if paper is accepted—publication in The Proceedings.
§ LE 50 for attendance only
§ Free admission for students.
Please complete the following below and send it to the following address: cairosymposium@yahoo.com.
The Tenth International Symposium on Comparative Literature
Topic area:
Title of presentation:
Presenter’s biodata (50 words):
Address:
E-mail:
Equipment needed (if any):
Abstract (300 words):
ARCE members who wish to present papers at the 61st ARCE Annual Meeting, April 23-25, 2010, in Oakland California, may begin submitting abstracts to the Review Committee electronically via the All Academic web site. The deadline for submissions is January 8, 2010.
The Review Committee will be comprised of scholars in both ancient and modern Egyptian studies. Please carefully read the Submission Guidelines on the All Academic home page for new information on 2010 proposals.
All presenters must be ARCE members.
Visit our web site at www.arce.org for more information on the 2010 Annual Meeting. We look forward to receiving your abstract.
]]>Directed by Philippe Fargues and Nasra Shah
The Gulf Research Meeting 2010
July 7-10, 2010
Cambridge University, United Kingdom
Call for Papers now issued
Deadline December 15, 2009
The Gulf Research Center is proud to announce the First Annual "Gulf Research Meeting", which is to be held in July 7-10th 2010. The GRM is an activity of the Gulf Research Foundation in collaboration with the University of Cambridge where the meeting will be held. It seeks to provide an academic environment to foster Gulf studies and to promote scholarly and academic exchange among scholars working and/or having familiarity with the Gulf region - i.e. the countries of Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. The Gulf Research Meeting aims to identify issues of importance to the Gulf region and provide a basis for academic and empirical research into those fields. Particular emphasis is given to encourage young scholars to engage in the debate and take part in research collaboration.
For more details, visit http://grcevent.net/cambridge/index.php
To download the workshop description, visit http://grcevent.net/cambridge/pdf/workshop12_proposal.pdf
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