Metaphors in Sacred Texts: A study of the procedures used in the English translations ofImamSajads (AS) Sahifah As-Sajjadiah

ABSTRACT:This research attempts to study the procedures followed by English translators in translating metaphors of sacred texts from Arabic into English; in this study the Sahifah As-Sajjadiah has specially been in focus. To achieve this purpose the following research question was conceived: Are the metaphors of the Sahifah As-Sajjadiah translated into English literally or freely? Then based on the content and extent of each supplication, a group of 54 metaphors of that book was selected. The translation of selected metaphors by two English translators, namely William C. Chittic (1978) and Sayyid Ahmad Muhani (1984), were compared with the original ones. Throughout this study the researcher moved in the direction of Newmark’s theoretical framework regarding definition and procedures of translating metaphor. Thus, any translation based on Newmark’s first procedure was regarded as literal, and those based on the remaining six procedures were considered as free. The analysis of the data showed that the metaphors of the Sahifah As-Sajjadiah are translated literally into English. The finding of this research can provide students with a better tool for understanding the mechanisms of translating themetaphorsof Sahifah As-Sajjadiah and for evaluating the translation of sacred texts more objectively.