A Comparative Study of Four English Translations of Sûrat Ad-Dukhân on the Semantic LevelThrough combining a knowledge of translation theory and application, the present book aims at holding a semantic comparison of four English translations attempted by Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall, ‘Abdullâh Yûsuf ‘Alî, Arthur J. Arberry and Muhammad Mahmûd Ghâlî of Sûrat Ad-Dukhân (the Chapter of Smoke). As a theoretical framework, the book deals with several linguistic and cultural problems of translation, with special reference to Qur'ân translation, and the principles that should be considered on translating the Qur'ân. The core of the book is a comparison of sixty-eight lexical, syntactic and stylistic selections from Sûrat Ad-Dukhân. The comparison depends on various Qur’ân interpretations and Arabic dictionaries to decide the precise meaning(s) of the selections. Then, a translation is suggested, and the four translations are judged: the correct ones are acknowledged and the mistaken shown, along with the reasons underlying the mistake(s). To reach the precise meaning in English and judge the translations compared accurately, many English dictionaries are utilized. The comparison shows that the best translation in terms of meaning precision and easiness of expression is that of Ghâlî, followed by Pickthall's, Arberry’s and ‘Alî’s respectively. |
Contents
| 1 | |
CHAPTER ONE | 11 |
CHAPTER TWO | 51 |
CHAPTER THREE | 81 |
CONCLUSION | 155 |
APPENDIX A | 161 |
| 175 | |
SUMMARY | 183 |
| 189 | |
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Common terms and phrases
according Accordingly accurate addition adopted Alî Allâh Arabic Arberry beautiful believe better Bible called Chapter clarify clear command complete concerning connotations constructions convey culture death Dictionary doubt earth ellipsis English especially example express eyes fact followed footnote four translators Ghâlî give given heaven Hell Ibn Katheer Ibn Manthûr importance instance intended interpreters Islamic KFCPHQ knowledge language linguistic lived Lord meaning mentioned Messenger Muslims MWCDT names night noted OALD original Pharaoh Pickthall Pickthall's play precise problems Prophet Moses Prophet Muhammad Qur'ânic verse Qur’ân translations Qur’ânic reasons receptors refers renders result rhetorical saying SCIA seems semantic sent sentence similar style suggested Sûrâ Surely syntactic things torment translating the Qur’ân transliterated unbelievers understand understood verb verse that reads word order أن الله على قال من