Modality in six English translations of the Qur’anic chapter-? af-fu9araa ?-the poets

Abstract EN

The present study investigates the employment of the central modal auxiliary verbs in six Qur'anic translations, namely Yusuf Ali’s, Pickthall’s, Dawood's, Abdel Haleem's, Al-Hilali & Khan's, and Ghali's, of the Qur'anic Chapter /?aj-ju9araa?/ 'the Poets'.

The study illustrates that there is a significant difference in the frequency of each of the modal auxiliary verbs in the six translations.

Moreover, it illustrates that among the mentioned translators, Dawood has made use of the central modal verbs more than the other translators.

Pickthall, on the other hand, has made use of these verbs less than the others.

In addition to the difference in frequency of using central model auxiliary verbs, the study points out that these modals are polysemous in nature as they occur in different verses with different senses.

Similarly, different translators may use different modals in the same verse.