Translation in Arabic language and literature
Javad Asghari; Hossein Jowkar
Abstract
AbstractCurrently, there is no precise and all-encompassing model available for evaluating the translation unit in the translation of the Quran. To attain such a model, it is necessary to first analyze the effectiveness of the components of the translation unit. In this new study, we aim to examine the ...
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AbstractCurrently, there is no precise and all-encompassing model available for evaluating the translation unit in the translation of the Quran. To attain such a model, it is necessary to first analyze the effectiveness of the components of the translation unit. In this new study, we aim to examine the translation unit used in translating the Holy Quran. This essay starts off by looking at how translation theorists have approached the idea of translation units. Following that, a thorough study and analysis of the translation units utilized by Quran translators in Iran have resulted in critiques of their effectiveness in interpreting the Holy Quran. In this study, alongside the utilization of translation units suggested by Western theorists, an additional groundbreaking unit was employed—a sub-word unit—which has not yet been utilized by any translation theorists in the Western context as a recognized translation unit. This article employs a descriptive-analytical method to analyze the translation unit. The examined translations include Moezi, Payandeh, Makarem Shirazi, and Ansarian's translation. The research findings indicate that the translation of the Holy Quran can be approached using several units, such as word unit, sentence unit, thinking unit, text unit, culture unit, and even units smaller than a word. The choice of unit depends on the specific context of each verse and the perspective of the translator. The percentage of sentence unit usage among the mentioned translators is higher than that of other units. Based on the research findings, it is not permissible for translators to make any modifications to the content of the Qur'an during translation. Therefore, the recommended translation unit for the Holy Qur'an is the sentence unit, which has proven to be the most impactful.Keywords: Holy Quran Translation, Translation Unit, Components of Translation Unit, Translation Critique.IntroductionThe exploration of various methodologies in the discourse around translation has given rise to numerous subjects within this domain. A problem that has been discussed in the theoretical field and has a direct impact on the practical field is the concept of the translation unit. The question at hand is: what is the optimal amount of text that a translator should choose as a translation unit? The translation unit refers to the portion of the source text that the translator selects for translation. It represents the unit of the source text that can be adjusted to match the unit of the destination text. Initially, the translator must choose a portion of the original text that has the essential meaning for translation. Subsequently, they must render it into the target language in its original form, or if that is not feasible, by implementing modifications. Translating religious literature is particularly delicate in comparison to other texts due to the significance of these texts in conveying divine revelation and words. This is because any alteration of the text's content by the translator is strictly prohibited. However, the sacredness of the term prohibits any alteration in the linguistic composition of the text.The translation unit is a theoretical concept in the field of translation that determines the portion of the source text that a translator can use to convey the meaning in the target language throughout the translation process. This article attempts to examine the usage of several linguistic units, such as word units, sentence units, thought units, text units, cultural units, and less-than-word units, by translators when translating the Quran from the source language to the destination language. Please have a look.This research has utilized twelve different translations of the Holy Quran. We selected these translators because we aimed to analyze various generations of translators and their distinct styles within the context of the translation unit. Our objective was to assess the utilization of different translation units by each translator.Literature ReviewIn the realm of Quranic translation, numerous subjects have been addressed, and thorough investigations have been conducted. Here are a few examples, summarized briefly: In their article titled "Criticism of Haddad Adel's Persian Translation of the Holy Quran from the Perspective of Conceptual Translation," Amraei and Marouf (2014) criticized Haddad Adel's Persian translation of the Holy Quran. They found that this translation, while drawing on the eloquent Persian language, adheres to the translator's belief in the method of conceptual translation. As a result, the translations are more equivalent and in harmony with the original language and structure of the Quran.In their 2013 article titled "Contemporary Literal Translations of the Holy Quran in Persian Language: Superiorities and Shortcomings," Naseri et al. examined the literal translations of the Holy Quran in Persian, specifically Dehlavi, Sharani, Mesbah Zadeh, and Moezi. They concluded that the literal translations of the Holy Quran have certain advantages and disadvantages when compared to the content translations. Although they have certain limitations, they also provide relative benefits.Azaddel et al. (2018) conducted a study titled "Criticism and Analysis of the Translation of Surah Al-Qara'a based on its Linguistic Context (a case study of the translations of Fuladvand and Makarem Shirazi)", where they compared two different translations of the Holy Quran. Fouladvand and Makarem Shirazi analyze Surah Al-Qaria by applying the principle of equivalence of linguistic context between the source and destination texts. Finally, they offer a recommended translation that is determined by analyzing the linguistic context using three key factors: lexical, morphological-syntactic, and rhetorical.Based on our observations, it has been discovered that numerous researchers have engaged in research endeavors focused on critiquing, examining, and evaluating translations of the Holy Quran. However, none of these studies have specifically focused on the act of translation itself. Thus, this paper aims to utilize the translation unit in translating the Qur'an to yield novel findings in the realm of Qur'an translation.Research MethodologyTo analyze the translation units in the translation of the Holy Qur'an, we initially determine the translation units available for the translator to utilize during the Qur'an translation process. In this study, alongside the translation units suggested by Western theorists, we will incorporate another groundbreaking unit: the sub-word unit. This article will analyze the translation of verses, focusing on translation units such as words, sentences, thoughts, texts, cultures, and smaller linguistic units. Next, an analysis is conducted on the efficacy of the translation units utilized by Quran translators in Iran for translating the Holy Quran. This article employs a descriptive-analytical method to analyze the translation unit.ConclusionUpon careful analysis of each translation of the Holy Quran, it becomes evident that the translators have rendered their translations based on their individual styles and personal preferences. This study demonstrates that the translator has the ability to utilize several units of translation, such as word units, sentence units, thinking units, text units, cultural units, and even units smaller than a word, when translating the Holy Quran. It is recommended to employ a single word in verses with jurisprudential difficulties that need to be translated without any interference.The sentence unit is the most frequently utilized due to its ability to effectively deliver messages without excessive or insufficient information. The usage of a unit of thought is suggested when it enhances the transmission of the message by being compatible with the target language and facilitating the audience's interpretation of the verse. Due to the significance of trustworthiness in conveying the message of the Qur'an and the concern of the translator's own bias, it is advised against utilizing the unit of the text.The cultural unit utilized varies depending on the specific cultural element and its relationship to the target text. However, its appropriate application will enhance the word's significance and promote familiarity with the culture of the Qur'an. In cases where the precise translation of individual letters is crucial, the unit is smaller, which enhances the accuracy of the translation. The study examined and criticized the translation units used by Quran translators in Iran.It found that the application of these units is highly effective in translating the Holy Quran. The use of translation unit components helps solve various challenges faced by translators, such as streamlining the translation process, avoiding inaccurate translations, addressing cultural differences, and accurately translating complex letters. Overall, the use of translation units greatly enhances the efficiency and accuracy of Quranic translation. Overall, the study on verse translation found that translators tended to use sentence units more frequently compared to other units. This is because sentence units allow for the translation of concepts without the need to add or remove any information. The verse's meaning is comprehended. Based on the research findings and the given reasons, the recommended translation unit for the Holy Quran is the sentence unit, as it is the most effective. This is because the sentence unit is particularly useful when the source language is concise (such as in descriptions or irony), which is also a characteristic of the Qur'an. Consequently, the sentence unit is considered the optimal and prevalent translation unit for translating the Quran.
Translation in Arabic language and literature
Mohammad Rahimi Khoigani
Abstract
An underexplored topic in the realm of Arabic-Persian translation is the impact of translation on political discourse. The study of political discourse in translation centers on the unavoidable ideological modifications that take place in any text throughout the process of translation, which warrant ...
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An underexplored topic in the realm of Arabic-Persian translation is the impact of translation on political discourse. The study of political discourse in translation centers on the unavoidable ideological modifications that take place in any text throughout the process of translation, which warrant careful examination and evaluation. Hence, the objective of this study is to examine several renditions of the dialogues between the Qatari Minister and the Saudi envoy during the commencement of the 148th session of the Arab League. This research aims to investigate the translation and representation of a single text by multiple media outlets, taking into account their ideological and political perspectives. Drawing on Christina Schäffner's theory and utilizing a descriptive-analytical technique, the study intends to determine the variations in translation and representation among these channels. The results of this study imply that both internal and external beliefs have an impact on translation modifications, and that various media platforms have altered the language and structure of the original text through word choice, grammatical changes, and textual reproduction.Keywords: Translation Critique, Christina Schäffner, 148th Arab League Summit, IdeologyIntroductionThe focus of translation critics lies on scrutinizing and assessing the essence of translation modifications and their underlying causes. This study seeks to examine the motives and techniques employed by different news agencies when modifying the texts of speeches delivered by Qatari and Saudi representatives at the 148th Arab League summit. Additionally, it aims to determine the impact of ideology and politics on the translation process and the selection of information. In order to accomplish this, the research utilizes Christina Schäffner's theoretical framework and applies it to the specific text. The study aims to ascertain the modifications made by various news outlets to the structure of Qatari and Saudi speeches, as per Christina Schäffner's theory.What was the rationale behind the modifications made to the speeches of the Qatari Minister and the Saudi Envoy, and how did these changes affect the overall content and tone of the text?The research hypotheses are assumed to relate to the following aspects: Observable changes are made in the translation and republication of the original text, encompassing word selection, information selection, transmission, and restructuring at all levels.The primary factor influencing changes in the translation process is linked to the beliefs and macro-policies of each news agency. Literature ReviewMofeh and others (2016) have attempted to examine the type of rewriting, selection, and transmission of political data.Khalozadeh et al. (2012) have tried to identify possible translation behaviors based on ideological concepts evident in the translations by fundamentalist and reformist newspapers in foreign media.Torkashvand (2016) has endeavored to demonstrate that, through critical discourse analysis, the existing ideology in the text is also revealed as a factor in its overall direction.Firouzianpour Esfahani et al. (2018) have focused on the role of syntactic strategies in representing the ideologies of Persian translators in translated political and social texts using critical discourse analysis.Abdi et al. (2021) have delved into the verbal tenses in a corpus consisting of two political biographies and their Persian translations from a critical discourse analysis perspective.Karamzadegan and Fatemeh Mozaheri (2023) have analyzed the dominant discourse in the translation of political texts (Arabic to Persian) from 2019 to 2022, focusing on the theme of war, concluding that each country's policies have directly influenced translation choices. Research MethodologyThe stages of this research are as follows:Extracting data through the source text and target text confrontation methods based on changes in the target text;Describing and analyzing the data using the ideological analysis approach based on Christina Schäffer's theoryConclusionDomestic and foreign news agencies had different approaches to the coverage of the dialogue and conflict between the Qatari Minister and the Saudi Ambassador in Egypt. This approach was evident in the selection of words, text reproduction, and information selection.The choice of words by foreign media, especially Al-Arabiya, includes two points: Firstly, sensitive words like the Arabian Gulf were issued by Qatar's representative, and this news agency merely conveyed these words. Secondly, by using the term "regime," efforts were made to draw a line between the government and the people of Iran.3: The words chosen by domestic media are in line with everyday use and Persian language customs. These media outlets have used what is common in the Persian language without considering the original text.4: Both domestic and foreign media have tried to select what aligns with their broader policies and their governments and avoid quoting other matters. However, among them, Al-Arabiya has had the highest volume of selection and omission.5: In the restructuring process, the media have tried to use strategies such as choosing titles, changing beginnings and endings, deletion, transforming direct quotations into indirect ones, transforming the face and form of verbs, etc. All of these efforts are aimed at creating a legitimate role for themselves and delegitimizing others. Additionally, part of the media's efforts is aimed at highlighting their positive features and the negative features of others.
Fateme Akbarizade; Yosra Shadman
Abstract
The play is a special literary type which has features a literary text and special dramatic features that will only be complete on the scene. Shahrzad's play, the Tawfiq al-Hakim plays written with a philosophical theme. This play has been translated twice in Persian by Shariat and Ayati. The translation ...
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The play is a special literary type which has features a literary text and special dramatic features that will only be complete on the scene. Shahrzad's play, the Tawfiq al-Hakim plays written with a philosophical theme. This play has been translated twice in Persian by Shariat and Ayati. The translation of the play is difficult task and its dramatic character must also be translated. This paper attempts to use a descriptive-analytical method, to examine two translations for stylistics and dramatic elements to check out the problems of the translation of the play. The results show that both translations have been tried to translate the language of the source language into the target language. But because of the translation of dramatic elements, the translation of the Shariat has been more successful. Because he translates tone and dialogue well and he tried to make the Dialogues fit the characters of the show.
