Cultural Problems in the Translation of the Qur’an

Bakri Al Azzam; Mohammed Al Ahaydib; Eman Al Huqail

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijalt.20150102.12

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Cultural Problems in the Translation of the Qur’an

Bakri Al Azzam, Mohammed Al Ahaydib, Eman Al Huqail

Published in International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation (Volume 1, Issue 2)

Received: 17 May 2015 Accepted: 26 May 2015 Published: 28 May 2015

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Abstract

Culture, as a main barrier in translation, creates real challenges for both translators and scholars of linguistics. The main aim of this paper is to investigate this translation problem, with reference to a number of culture-bound expressions in the Qur’an. The examples of the study represent not only expressions resembling the Islamic era, but also the pagan Arabs era, as explicitly highlighted in the Quranic discourse. To have a solid, grounded and authentic discussion, three translations of the Qur’an are selected, reflecting different cultural backgrounds. In order to support the argument with religious viewpoints, a number of Qur’anic exegeses are incorporated to display the cultural and the technical meanings of the examples.

Published in	International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation (Volume 1, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijalt.20150102.12
Page(s)	28-34
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2015. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Culture, Problem, Translation, Qur’an

References

[1]	Ali, A. (2006). The Holy Qur'an: Text and Translation, Kuala Lumpur: Islamic Book Trust.
[2]	Amin, M. & Razduq, A. (2001). Collection from Riyad-us-Saliheen, Saudi Arabia: Darussalam.
[3]	Atyah, I. (1991). Al-Muharrar Al-Wageez (vol 15). Qatar: Islamic Affairs Publications.
[4]	Al-Azzam, B (2005) Certain terms relating to Islamic observances: their Meanings with Reference to Three Translations of the Qur'an and a Translation of Hadith, Online Published PhD thesis, Durham University: UK.
[5]	Catford, J. C. (1965) A Linguistic Theory of Translation, London: Oxford University Press
[6]	al-Hilali, M. T. and Khan M. M. (1996) Translation of the Meanings of the Noble Qur’an in the English Language, Saudi Arabia, King Fahad Complex for the Printing of the Holy Qur’an: Saudi Arabia.
[7]	Al-Jawzi (1987). Zad Al-Musayyar fe Elm At-Tafseer, Al-Maktab Al-Islami: Beirut.
[8]	Jenks, C. (1993). Culture. Florence, KY, Routledge: USA: Retrieved from http://www.ebrary.com
[9]	Newmark, P. "The Theory and the Craft of Translation, `Language Teaching and
[10]	Linguistics: Absracts, Vol. 19, No. 1. Cambridge University Press: UK, 1976, pp. 5-26.
[11]	Pickthall, M. (1953) The Meaning of the Glorious Koran, The New American Library: New York.
[12]	al-Qurtubi, A. (2003) Al-Jamee le Ahkam Al-Qur’an (vol. 10). Riyadh: Dar Alam Al-Kotob.
[13]	al-Razi (2006). At-Tafseer Bil Mathoor, Dar Al-Kotob Al-Elmiyah: Beirut.
[14]	Sapir, E. (1949) Culture, Language and Personality, University of California: Berkeley.
[15]	al-Sayooti, J (2003) Ad-Dur Al-Manthoor fit Tafseer bil Ma'thour, Center for Islamic and Arabic Studies: Cairo.
[16]	al-Shawkani, M. (1995) Al-Fath Ar-Rabbani, (vol. 2), Safahat al-thahabiyah: Riyadh.
[17]	al-Shawkani, M. (1994) Fath Al-Qadeer (vol. 5), Dar al-Kotub Al-Ilmiyyah: Beruit,.
[18]	Snell-Hornby, M. (1988), Translation Studies: An Integrated Approach. Amsterdam: John
[19]	Benjamins Publishing Company.
[20]	al-Tabari. (2001) Tafseer At-Tabari: Jame’ Al-Bayan fi Ta'weel Ay Al-Qur’an, Center for Islamic and Arabic Studies: Cairo.

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Bakri Al Azzam, Mohammed Al Ahaydib, Eman Al Huqail. (2015). Cultural Problems in the Translation of the Qur’an. International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation, 1(2), 28-34. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20150102.12

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ACS Style

Bakri Al Azzam; Mohammed Al Ahaydib; Eman Al Huqail. Cultural Problems in the Translation of the Qur’an. Int. J. Appl. Linguist. Transl. 2015, 1(2), 28-34. doi: 10.11648/j.ijalt.20150102.12

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AMA Style

Bakri Al Azzam, Mohammed Al Ahaydib, Eman Al Huqail. Cultural Problems in the Translation of the Qur’an. Int J Appl Linguist Transl. 2015;1(2):28-34. doi: 10.11648/j.ijalt.20150102.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ijalt.20150102.12,
  author = {Bakri Al Azzam and Mohammed Al Ahaydib and Eman Al Huqail},
  title = {Cultural Problems in the Translation of the Qur’an},
  journal = {International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation},
  volume = {1},
  number = {2},
  pages = {28-34},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijalt.20150102.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20150102.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijalt.20150102.12},
  abstract = {Culture, as a main barrier in translation, creates real challenges for both translators and scholars of linguistics. The main aim of this paper is to investigate this translation problem, with reference to a number of culture-bound expressions in the Qur’an. The examples of the study represent not only expressions resembling the Islamic era, but also the pagan Arabs era, as explicitly highlighted in the Quranic discourse. To have a solid, grounded and authentic discussion, three translations of the Qur’an are selected, reflecting different cultural backgrounds. In order to support the argument with religious viewpoints, a number of Qur’anic exegeses are incorporated to display the cultural and the technical meanings of the examples.},
 year = {2015}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Cultural Problems in the Translation of the Qur’an
AU  - Bakri Al Azzam
AU  - Mohammed Al Ahaydib
AU  - Eman Al Huqail
Y1  - 2015/05/28
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Author Information

Bakri Al Azzam

Department of English Language and Literature, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan
Mohammed Al Ahaydib

College of Languages and Translation, Al-Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, KSA
Eman Al Huqail

Department of English, Majmaah University, Al Majma`ah, Saudi Arabia

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APA Style

Bakri Al Azzam, Mohammed Al Ahaydib, Eman Al Huqail. (2015). Cultural Problems in the Translation of the Qur’an. International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation, 1(2), 28-34. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20150102.12

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ACS Style

Bakri Al Azzam; Mohammed Al Ahaydib; Eman Al Huqail. Cultural Problems in the Translation of the Qur’an. Int. J. Appl. Linguist. Transl. 2015, 1(2), 28-34. doi: 10.11648/j.ijalt.20150102.12

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AMA Style

Bakri Al Azzam, Mohammed Al Ahaydib, Eman Al Huqail. Cultural Problems in the Translation of the Qur’an. Int J Appl Linguist Transl. 2015;1(2):28-34. doi: 10.11648/j.ijalt.20150102.12

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijalt.20150102.12,
  author = {Bakri Al Azzam and Mohammed Al Ahaydib and Eman Al Huqail},
  title = {Cultural Problems in the Translation of the Qur’an},
  journal = {International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation},
  volume = {1},
  number = {2},
  pages = {28-34},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijalt.20150102.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20150102.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijalt.20150102.12},
  abstract = {Culture, as a main barrier in translation, creates real challenges for both translators and scholars of linguistics. The main aim of this paper is to investigate this translation problem, with reference to a number of culture-bound expressions in the Qur’an. The examples of the study represent not only expressions resembling the Islamic era, but also the pagan Arabs era, as explicitly highlighted in the Quranic discourse. To have a solid, grounded and authentic discussion, three translations of the Qur’an are selected, reflecting different cultural backgrounds. In order to support the argument with religious viewpoints, a number of Qur’anic exegeses are incorporated to display the cultural and the technical meanings of the examples.},
 year = {2015}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Cultural Problems in the Translation of the Qur’an
AU  - Bakri Al Azzam
AU  - Mohammed Al Ahaydib
AU  - Eman Al Huqail
Y1  - 2015/05/28
PY  - 2015
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20150102.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijalt.20150102.12
T2  - International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation
JF  - International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation
JO  - International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation
SP  - 28
EP  - 34
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2472-1271
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20150102.12
AB  - Culture, as a main barrier in translation, creates real challenges for both translators and scholars of linguistics. The main aim of this paper is to investigate this translation problem, with reference to a number of culture-bound expressions in the Qur’an. The examples of the study represent not only expressions resembling the Islamic era, but also the pagan Arabs era, as explicitly highlighted in the Quranic discourse. To have a solid, grounded and authentic discussion, three translations of the Qur’an are selected, reflecting different cultural backgrounds. In order to support the argument with religious viewpoints, a number of Qur’anic exegeses are incorporated to display the cultural and the technical meanings of the examples.
VL  - 1
IS  - 2
ER  -

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