The Applicability of Metaphor Translation Strategies By Peter Newmark

Evaluating English Translations of Quranic Metaphors in Surah Al-Baqarah

Abstract

Arabic is widely known as a universally recognized literary language enriched with rhetorical styles. Metaphor is one of prominent styles of rhetoric. The Holy Quran as a part of Arabic religious literature holds many diverse rhetorical styles including metaphors which convey figurative meaning and play a major role in building up their artistic flavor. A translator while translating metaphorical expressions of the Holy Quran into another language like English, faces different problems and consequently mistranslates them which results in misunderstanding of a target text (TT) readers.

The present study focuses on the English translations of selected explicit metaphors of the Holy Quran in Surah Baqarah. It aims to analyze the Arabic-to-English translation strategies adopted in rendering metaphors in Quranic discourse, with specific reference to three English translations which are: 1. The Koran Interpreted by Arther John Arberry, 2. The Noble Qur'an: English Translation of the Meanings and Commentary by Taqi Ud Deen Al-Hilali & Muhammad Muhsin Khan, 3. The Quran with Phrase by phrase English translation by Syed Ali Quli Qarai.

In this research article each Quranic metaphor has been first analyzed in its Arabic context according to the authentic rhetoric exegeses of the Holy Quran, and then its three English translations have been assessed analytically and comparatively by implementing the seven strategies of metaphor translation devised by Peter Newmark. The article has been concluded with results of the comparative and analytical study of the translation of Quranic Explicit metaphors and with the conclusions of the research and some recommendations have been stated at the end of the dissertation.

Key Words: Quranic Metaphor, Translation, Translation Strategies of Metaphor.