Authorial Style in English Translation of the Holy Quran: Translation of Polysemy in Focus

Authorial Style in English Translation of the Holy Quran: Translation of Polysemy in Focus

Polysemy is a word having two or more related meanings, and it has a significant role in the translation of the Holy Quran. It is possible that one equivalence which is selected for polysemy is not the exact meaning of the word. The Holy Quran is full of the polysemous words which lead to the complexity of choosing the exact meaning. Therefore, translation of polysemy should be under translator’s care to translate more accurately. In the present study, translation of polysemous terms found in the work of the following five translators is analyzed: Qarib, Sarwar, Shakir, Pickthall Yusuf Ali. Then, according to Hatim and Mundy, translation of polysemous words has been considered through their texture and the context. (Rezvani Ghonsooly, 2011) The result shows that translators sometimes are not consistent in employing specific strategies, and polesymous words cannot be translated into polysemous words in another language. This study tries to facilitate translation of polesymous word according to an observed sequence. Therefore, concentration on the context and co-text and the role of lexical relation and cultural elements are some practical solutions to translate polysemy. This research would hopefully pave the way for future translations of the Holy Quran to consider polysemous words.

Polysemy is a word having two or more related meanings, and it has a significant role in the translation of the Holy Quran. It is possible that one equivalence which is selected for polysemy is not the exact meaning of the word. The Holy Quran is full of the polysemous words which lead to the complexity of choosing the exact meaning. Therefore, translation of polysemy should be under translator’s care to translate more accurately. In the present study, translation of polysemous terms found in the work of the following five translators is analyzed: Qarib, Sarwar, Shakir, Pickthall Yusuf Ali. Then, according to Hatim and Mundy, translation of polysemous words has been considered through their texture and the context. (Rezvani Ghonsooly, 2011) The result shows that translators sometimes are not consistent in employing specific strategies, and polesymous words cannot be translated into polysemous words in another language. This study tries to facilitate translation of polesymous word according to an observed sequence. Therefore, concentration on the context and co-text and the role of lexical relation and cultural elements are some practical solutions to translate polysemy. This research would hopefully pave the way for future translations of the Holy Quran to consider polysemous words.