Semantic ambiguity : a problem for the translators of the holy qur'an

Other Title(s)

اللبس المعنوي : مشكلة لمترجمي القرآن الكريم

Dissertant

Ilayyan, Walid Abbas

Thesis advisor

al-Umari, Layla Muhammad

Comitee Members

Knachri, Mahmud Ali
al-Butush, Amin Muhammad
Khawaldeh, Muhammad Irshaid

University

Mutah University

Faculty

Faculty of Arts

Department

Department of English Language and Literature

University Country

Jordan

Degree

Master

Degree Date

2007

English Abstract

This study is concerned with the problem of translating the Qur'anic verses in which a single word may cover two possible opposite meanings in Classical Arabic.

This ambiguity in words meaning in Classical Arabic can cause a problem for the translators of the Holy Qur'an.

These verses are of two types.

The first type contains words which, though they cover their own opposites in Classical Arabic, in the Holy Qur'an are used to reveal the meanings which are inconsistent with, and the opposite of the common usage.

The second type of these verses contains words which may reveal two possible opposite meanings accepted by the commentators of the Holy Quran. Translators usually provide concordant equivalents which match only the literal meanings of these words.

The translators also provide inadequate renditions of the verses in which words may reveal two possible opposite meanings in the context in which they are used.

They, in most cases, resort to the literal meanings of these words.

They may, therefore, unintentionally avoid the other possible meaning. The study consists of four chapters.

Chapter one is an introduction which presents the purpose and the significance of the study, the statement of the problem, and the methodology used in the study.

Chapter two is devoted for a review of related literature.

Chapter three is the essence of this study.

This chapter investigates the problem of translating the Qur'anic verses in which a single word may cover two possible opposite meanings in Classical Arabic.

This chapter shows how these verses are rendered either in an inadequate or inappropriate way as well.

Chapter four is a conclusion in which the findings and recommendations of the study are presented. The study concludes that the translators of the Holy Qur'an resort only to the literal meanings of the Qur'anic words uniting two opposites in Classical Arabic.

They-in most cases-show rigid consistency in the rendering of these words.

This is because they provide the meanings which concord with the words under investigation.

Such a translation may provide distorted renditions for the verses in which the intended meanings of words are those which are inconsistent with and the opposite of the common usage.

Main Subjects

Religion

Topics

• Semantics
• The holy koran

No. of Pages

65

Table of Contents

• APA
• MLA
• AMA

Language

English

Data Type

Arab Theses

Record ID

BIM-304505