AWEJ for Translation & Literary Studies, Volume 5, Number 2. May 2021 Pp. 2-17
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awejtls/vol5no2.1
Lexical Asymmetry as a Translation Problem Arising in the Holy Quran
Emad Ahmed Al-Tamari
English Department, Faculty of Languages and Translation, King Khalid University, Abha,
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Eyhab Abdulrazak Bader Eddin
English Department, Faculty of Languages and Translation, King Khalid University, Abha,
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Corresponding Author: linguisteyhab@hotmail.com
Received: 4/12/2021 Accepted: 5/11/2021 Published:5/24/2021
Abstract:
Coupled with copious evidence and cogent illustrations, this article charts an important development in the field of translating the Holy Quran. It breaks new ground in a new type of problems inherent in the translation of the Quran. It is designed to catch translators’ alert senses to look beyond the traditional approach to translation, i.e. looking for the superficial equivalent. It critically discusses the long-standing proclivity for the deeply-held belief in the existence of absolute synonyms in the Quran. Although the examples given are not very exhaustive due to space constraints, the author’s unbridled reason pushes him to how far semantic propinquity exists in the Quran, developing a plethora of new checklists which will definitely act as a springboard to lay groundwork to any translator. The paper draws a conclusion that the seemingly verb and noun synonyms in the Quran are not so, resulting in a lexical asymmetry in translation. This paper zooms in on a new type of sense relationships, which involve a pair of words with similar meaning, but are made up of the same root morphologically. The paper takes three very popular and mesmerizing translations of the Quran as a point of reference. This paper shatters the fervent belief that one word can be a full equivalent to seemingly synonymous words in the Quran. This is a strong call on translators to start looking at new issues in the translation of the Quran from different standpoints, an arresting fact we need to grasp.
Keywords: Quran translation, lexical asymmetry, synonyms, translation problem
Cite as: Al-Tamari, E. A., & Bader Eddin, E. A. (2021). Lexical Asymmetry as a Translation Problem Arising in the Holy Quran.
Arab World English Journal for Translation & Literary
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