LINGUIST List 19.2589
Fri Aug 22 2008
Diss: Semantics/Translation: Muhammad: 'A Comparative Study of Four...'
Editor for this issue: Evelyn Richter
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1. Sa‘ûdî
Muhammad,
A Comparative Study of Four English Translations of Sûrat Ad-Dukhân (the Chapter of Smoke) on the Semantic Level
Message 1: A Comparative Study of Four English Translations of Sûrat Ad-Dukhân (the Chapter of Smoke) on the Semantic Level
Date: 22-Aug-2008
From: Sa‘ûdî Muhammad <saudy777gmail.com>
Subject: A Comparative Study of Four English Translations of Sûrat Ad-Dukhân (the Chapter of Smoke) on the Semantic Level
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Institution: Minia University
Program: Translation Criticism
Dissertation Status: Completed
Degree Date: 2007
Author: Sa'ûdî Şâdiq Muhammad
Dissertation Title: A Comparative Study of Four English Translations of Sûrat Ad-Dukhân (the Chapter of Smoke) on the Semantic Level
Linguistic Field(s):
Semantics
Translation
Dissertation Director:
Muhammad Mahmûd Ghâlî
Ayman Amîn El-Gamal
Dissertation Abstract:
The present study aims at investigating the field of Qur'ân translationthrough holding a semantic comparison of four English translationsattempted by Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall, 'Abdullâh Yûsuf 'Alî, Arthur J.Arberry and Muhammad Mahmûd Ghâlî of Sûrat Ad-Dukhân (the Chapter ofSmoke). The study is divided into three chapters, an introduction, and aconclusion. Chapter One deals with a number of the linguistic (lexical,syntactic, semantic and stylistic) and cultural problems that may ariseduring translation, with special reference to Qur'ân translation. It wasfound that the problems directly related to Qur'ân translation arepolysemy, semantic change, proper names, tenses - especially the use of thepast tense in Arabic - word order, syntactic ambiguity, ellipsis,redundancy, extraposition and culture-bound words. In addition, there is anattempt to suggest some solutions to the problems investigated. Chapter Twotackles the principles of translating the Qur'ân, mainly focusing on theteam of translators, the techniques of conveying the content and the formatof translation. In Chapter Three, a semantic comparison is held, with sixtyeight lexical, syntactic and stylistic selections. The comparison dependson a number of different-oriented Qur'ân interpretations and Arabicdictionaries to decide the precise meaning(s) of the words andconstructions selected. Then, a translation is suggested, and the fourtranslations are judged: the correct ones are acknowledged and the mistakenshown, along with the reasons underlying the mistake(s). To reach theprecise meaning in English, and in order to judge the translations undercomparison accurately, a group of English dictionaries are relied on.Finally, the comparison shows that the best translation in terms of theprecision of meaning and easiness of expression is that of Ghâlî, followedby Pickthall's, then that of Arberry and, lastly, that of 'Alî.
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