The translation of Arabic al-adhdad (opposites)‎ in the glorious Quran into English : problems and strategies

Abstract EN

The present paper is an attempt to investigate the nature of an Arabic semantic phenomenon called Al-Adhdad (opposites).

This phenomenon of having entirely two opposite meanings arises when an expression contains either a lexical item or a grammatical construction which can be interpreted in two opposite ways, i.e.

having two opposite readings.

The study aims at (1) showing how this phenomenon is realized in the TL (English).

(2) pointing out some problems which may result from rendering verses manifesting this phenomenon.

(3) proposing a rendering which goes along with the Qur anic interpretation if there is none.

The study hypothesizes that such phenomenon most probably goes unnoticed by the translators and that the semantic approach or even literal translation is usually opted for.

The study comes up with the conclusion that Al-Adhdad , compared with English, is uniquely an Arabic semantic phenomenon which represents a problematic area for the translators who conduct their translations at a purely linguistic level without realizing that another meaning, precisely the opposite meaning, may be intended depending on the context of situation.