Warsaw: Emirati writer and researcher Dr Sultan Al Ameemi and Polish novelist Radek Rak explored how literature crosses linguistic and cultural boundaries during a discussion held at Sharjah’s pavilion at the Warsaw International Book Fair 2026.
The session, part of Sharjah’s Guest of Honour programme, focused on the evolving nature of contemporary fiction, the role of translation, and the relationship between writers, readers and literary traditions.
Speaking during the session titled “Artistic and intellectual developments in contemporary Emirati and Polish literature”, Al Ameemi said the growing translation of Arabic literature into other languages has strengthened literary exchange and expanded opportunities for dialogue between cultures. He noted that contemporary fiction increasingly addresses concerns shared across societies, regardless of geography or language.
He added that many themes in world literature reflect similarities long present in folk traditions across East and West, where stories often converge despite arising from different cultural contexts.
Reflecting on the development of the Emirati novel, Al Ameemi said contemporary Emirati fiction has become more open to experimentation in language, structure and ideas. However, he stressed that literary progress is driven by the writer’s individual creative vision rather than institutions or cultural environments alone.
He also said that while literary prizes and competitions can support writers and recognise achievement, they do not create novelists, adding that lasting literary value comes from sustained commitment to craft and the development of a distinct creative voice.
On the relationship between writers and readers, Al Ameemi said authors do not write solely for themselves, but warned that excessive concern with audience expectations can weaken a work. He noted that readers bring different perspectives to the same text over time, and a novel may be interpreted differently by the same person at various stages of life.
He added that concerns about translation or international readership should not shape the writing process, emphasising that a writer’s primary responsibility is to the text, its language and its artistic construction.
Addressing language, Al Ameemi said Standard Arabic remains the shared literary language of the Arab world despite regional diversity, allowing readers across countries to engage with a common literary tradition. He added that while the use of dialects in prose remains limited, Emirati poetry continues to flourish in both classical Arabic and Nabati forms.
For his part, Rak said literature draws strength from balancing cultural specificity with universal human experience. He cited Umberto Eco’s The Name of the Rose as an example of a work deeply rooted in a specific historical context that continues to resonate across cultures and generations.
He added that cultural specificity gives literature its distinct identity, while universal themes allow readers to connect with stories beyond their own experiences, creating both familiarity and discovery.
Discussing examples from Polish and Finnish literature, Rak said the role of the translator goes beyond transferring words, extending to conveying the cultural and linguistic essence of a text.
On the craft of fiction, Rak said novels are shaped not only by plot but by the writer’s perspective and interpretation of the world. He added that while story remains important, the most meaningful books are those that leave a lasting impression and offer insight into lives and experiences different from the reader’s own.