Burke receives 2026 Medal for Excellence in Translation

Dr Simon Burke. Image supplied.

Celebrating its tenth year, the Medal for Excellence in Translation is a major national award which recognises outstanding translation achievements and celebrates the vital role of translators and translation in Australian culture and scholarly discourse. The announcement of Dr Burke’s award marks United Nation’s International Translation Day, which celebrates the important work of language professionals.

“The Principles of Religion is a witness to the intellectual and theological life of the Syriac Orthodox Church during a period of cultural and linguistic transition,” said Dr Burke who is a Moderator for Hebrew and Arabic for the Australian University of Theology, and an Academic Editor for Policy & Internet, published by Wiley.

“Written in Middle Arabic by a 13th-century monk trained in Syriac intellectual traditions, the book exemplifies how Christian communities articulated their doctrine within an Arabic-speaking environment while maintaining continuity with their Syriac heritage.”

Dr Burke is interested in making texts relating to theology and philosophy from diverse historical and cultural contexts accessible, enabling readers to engage with ideas that are often overlooked. He has studied Arabic, Syriac, Hebrew, Sanskrit, and Classical Greek, and applied himself to learning from the literatures of diverse traditions of thought, including Syriac Orthodox, East Syriac, Islamic, Jewish, and Vedantic.

Until now, this work has only been accessible in manuscript form, and inaccessible to many. Dr Burke’s English translation opens Rabban Daniel Ibn al-Ḥaṭṭāb’s work to researchers in theology, philosophy, Middle Eastern history, and comparative religion, and supports communities seeking to engage with this rich intellectual heritage.

On the award, the judging committee commented, “Dr Burke’s magisterial critical edition of The Principles of Religion is a remarkable achievement of philology and translation. The work, written in Middle Arabic, documents Syriac Orthodox theological traditions. Dr Burke’s clear, highly readable translation of this complex text captures the dialogue and tension between these interwoven traditions of language, thought and belief.

Although primarily a text for specialists, it is also a unique resource for more general readers interested in the nuances of how medieval Syriac Orthodox Christians articulated their doctrines within an Arabic speaking environment.”

“In tracing the deep roots of evolving relations between peoples and cultures in the Middle East, this fine study also has wider resonance in today’s world.”

The Australian Academy of the Humanities congratulates the translators who were shortlisted for this award: Dr Tomoko Aoyama FAHA, Dr Penny Bailey and Professor Jesper Gulddal.

The Medal for Excellence in Translation is awarded biennially and will re-open for applications in early 2028. Subscribe to our newsletter to keep up-to-date on future grants and awards.

The post Burke receives 2026 Medal for Excellence in Translation appeared first on Australian Academy of the Humanities.