Translation of Metaphor: An Evaluative Comparative Study of a Sample of Quran Metaphors with Reference to Four English Translation Versions of the Holly Quran

Abstract

This study aims at finding out the best method for translating Qur'anic metaphors, through the assessment of the ways metaphor is rendered in four translations of the Holy Qur'an. Different types of metaphor in both Arabic and English as well as the strategies of translating them are discussed. Metaphor in the Holy Quran has been investigated according to the theoretical stipulations posited by Arab rhetoricians. Adopting Newmark’s (1988) metaphor translation strategies, four different English translations of thirty verses representing three types of metaphor are assessed to ascertain their success in handling metaphor in the Quran. Type of each metaphor is mentioned, in addition to the context of situation extracted from different books of tafsir. The evaluation of translations follows a linguistic approach based on analysis and comparison. The study shows that literal translation is the best method for rendering Qur'anic metaphors because it maintains both the direct and indirect meanings of the metaphor. However, it can be blocked by linguistic and cultural constraints. In this case, the metaphor needs to be reduced to its sense, but the lost impact has to be compensated for. The study also stresses the need to use footnotes in Qur'an translations to provide the background information necessary for bridging the cultural gaps and ensuring the correct understanding of a literallytranslated metaphor.