New Books in Middle Eastern Studies Nile Green, "Serendipitous Translations: A Sourcebook on Sri Lanka in the Islamic Indian Ocean" (U Texas Press, 2026)
Jan 7, 2026
Nile Green, a historian specializing in Islam and the Indian Ocean world, discusses his new work that compiles diverse Muslim voices from Sri Lanka's rich history. He explores the complexities of translating multilingual texts and the editorial challenges he faced to make these stories accessible. Green highlights the significance of unraveling the experiences of Muslim communities, particularly the Moors and Malays, while advocating for deeper research into Islamic Tamil sources. He also shares intriguing anecdotes from historical narratives and offers insights into his writing process.
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Sri Lanka As A Linguistic Window
- Nile Green uses Sri Lanka as a focal point to reveal multilingual, multiscript Indian Ocean histories.
- He argues Indian Ocean history needs far richer source bases in the region's own languages and scripts.
Prioritize Readability In Translations
- Standardize diacritics and prioritize readable translations for wider use in classrooms.
- Provide concise introductions and targeted notes so non-specialists can appreciate multilingual texts.
Scholarly Gaps In Moorish Histories
- The book highlights gaps in scholarship on Sri Lankan Muslims, especially pre-19th-century Tamil-language sources.
- Green hopes the volume will stimulate research into Lankan Muslim Tamil literatures and manuscripts.
