Quality of Finding Equivalents for Quranic Metaphors in Translation

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor of Holy Quran University of Tehran

2 PhD student in Arabic language and literature at Allameh Tabatabai University

Abstract

Metaphor, as one of the most important literary devices, holds a high epistemological and aesthetic significance. Also in the field of translation studies, some experts maintain that translating metaphors is the hardest task. This is especially important in the translation of authoritative texts such as the holy Quran.
By paying attention to past and present scholars’ opinions about the quality of translation and finding equivalent for Quranic metaphors we reach methods such as metaphorical translation, literal translation, meaning translation, etc.
With due attention to definitions and function of translation and metaphor on the one hand and Quranic text quality, literal translation of Quranic metaphors combined with interpretations and the ultimate message of those seems to be the most suitable one.
This is because one can maintain the structure, original style, and cultural features of the text while adding notes for helping readers grasp the ideas better. A survey of some existing translations shows that translatorS have confused readers by adopting inconsistent methods in translating metaphors, a fact which is rooted in the lack of a reliable theory of translation.

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