The Effect of the Linguistic Rules of ɁUsûlu-tafsȋr on Qur?ânic Translation: A Critical Analysis of Ghâlî’s and Pickthall’s Translation of the Noble Qur?ân

Document Type : Original Article

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Department of English, Faculty of Languages and Translation, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study is based on five linguistic rules of ɁUsûlu-tafsȋr to show how important these rules are to understanding and translating the meaning of the Nobel Qur?ân. These rules are: /Ɂat−taḍmîn/, the meaning of a verb is grasped by way of its transitivity, non-standard use of the comparative/superlative adjective-form in Classical Arabic, for a word (or some other linguistic item) to base a new meaning is more appropriate than to confirm an existing meaning, cardinal numbers in Classic Arabic are consistently inflected to the feminine when the time adverb marking the number is ellipted. These rules in addition to part of Nida's Model of translation (1964) represent a theoretical framework to a critical analysis of Ghâlî’s and Pickthall’s translation of the Qur?ân. The study shows that the two translations, generally speaking, mishandle the linguistic aspects of these rules but in different ways. Concerning Ghâlȋ’s translation, it shows a realization of some, but not all, problematic issues of the rules but it mistranslates them or it may unreasonably opt for a dogmatic literality of rendering the meaning. As regards Pickthall’s translation, it shows unawareness of the rules. However, at times, it may appropriately approach the intended meaning, perhaps aided by other linguistic factors such as context and logical inference. The study also proves the idea that secondary meanings of Classical Arabic − as opposed to ɁAsh-Shâṭeby's view point − are translatable, at least, as far as the above-mentioned rules are concerned, and into English.

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