Advice on Arabic DTP

Fuad Yahya wrote:

1. Word count: Arabic word count (in a good translation) is about 20% lower than the English word count. One reason is that many words are merged with other words as prefixes or suffixes. This category includes the definite article, the number "two" (when used adjectivally), some prepositions, some interrogatives, some conjunctions, object pronouns, and possessive adjectives. Another reason is that certain linguistic elements are simply not stated as words at all. This category includes indefinite articles as well as the verb "to be" in simple declarative constructions. Consequently, a five-word phrase, like "A Tale of Two Cities," becomes a two-word phrase: قصة مدينتين

Of course, poor style, which is rampant, causes word count inflation. The most notorious stylistic infelicity is the use of dummy verbs. Examples:

English: He ate the sandwich.
Poor Arabic (in back translation): He undertook the eating of the sandwich.
English: The sandwich was eaten.
Poor Arabic (in back translation): The eating of the sandwich was completed.

I have even invented names for these two types of poor style. I call the first type Qamqama القمقمة because of the irritating use of the verb QAMA قام, and the second type Tamtama التمتمة because of the irritatingly repetitive use of the verb TAMMA تم

Another factor that would raise the word count in some passages is the aversion towards abbreviations.

2. Font: Your question is specifically about the physical space and how it affects the layout. Fonts will make a big difference. The tendency among most translators is to keep the same font name when translating. Unfortunately, the same font name does not mean the same font, because Arabic letters have entirely different characteristics. Those of us who have practiced the art of Arabic calligraphy abhor such fonts as Arabic Arial and Arabic Times. They are a disgrace. When using MS Word, I use "Traditional Arabic" because it is the closest to real Arabic. The vew version (beginning with Windows 7) has enhanced this font even more. Using this font, however, requires some space management on two fronts:

a. Font size: Most texts come in either Arial 10 or Times 12. The equivalent in Traditional Arabic is 14.

b. Line spacing: In general, Arabic tends to take less space horizontally, but more space vertically. This is even more so in Traditional Arabic font. To manage vertical space, you need to play with line spacing. In most cases, 0.85 seems to be the right line spacing.

Of course, if you do not mind the esthetic issues in Arabic Arial and Arabic Times, there will be no need for line space adjustment or font size adjustment.

Dan Brennan wrote:

If one were to use the Traditional Arabic font that you recommended in 14pt, Fuad, would you expect this to equate, in terms of physical space, to an English source text produced in Times New Roman 12pt?

Secondly, in an actual Arabic periodical or other publication, am I right in assuming that the spine is on the right rather than on the left, given that the text reads right to left?