Metaphors in Translation: an Investigation of a Sample of Quran Metaphors with Reference to Three English Versions of the Quran
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Metaphors in Translation: An investigation of a sample of Quran metaphors with reference to three English versions of the Quran Sumaya Ali Najjar A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Liverpool John Moores University United Kingdom PhD 2012 Declaration I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, it contains no material previously published or written by another person nor material which has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma of the university or other institute of higher learning, except where due acknowledgment has been made in the text. Sumaya Ali Najjar Signature: _ Date: ---------------- II Acknowledgment I am sincerely and heartily grateful to my supervisor Dr. Karim Menacere for the support and guidance he showed me throughout my thesis. I really appreciate his patience, support and professional comments. I am sure the thesis would have not been possible without his help and guidance. I wish also to extend my thanks and gratitude to Mrs Brigitte Horden for her interest in the topic of my research and for her useful and constructive comments and support. My thanks also go to Dr. Qing Caofor his valuable comments and advice. My warm thanks go to my parents and my children; Malik, Alia, Esra, Abdulssalam and Dania for their patience and support and I wish them all the success. Last but not least, very sincere thanks to my husband Mohamed to whom my thankfulness extend beyond words for his moral support and constant encouragement. III Contents Page Chapter One: Introduction 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2. Purpose of the study 3 1.3 The selected translations 3 1.4 Justification of the study 5 1.5 Research Questions 5 1.6 Aims of the study 6 1.7 Background of the study 7 1.7.1 The Quran 7 1.7.1.a The Quran and Arabic language 10 1.7.l.b Quran metaphors 11 1.8 Translating sacred texts 12 1.8.1 Difficulties in translating the Quran 13 1.9 The early history of Quran translation 17 1.10 Conclusion 18 Chapter Two: Literature Review 20 2.1. Introduction 20 2.2. The discipline of Translation Studies 20 2.3 The concept of translation 21 2.4 Sense-for-sense (free) vs. word for word (literal) translation 24 2.4.1 Sense-for-sense (free) translation 25 IV 2.4.2 Word-for-word (Literal) Translation 25 2.5 Translation approaches before twentieth century 26 2.6 Current translation approaches 28 2.6.1 Linguistic approaches 29 2.6.1.1 A critical assessment 31 2.6.2 A communicative approach 33 2.6.2.1 Concluding remarks 35 2.6.3 Invisibility in translation 35 2.6.3.1 Concluding remarks 37 2.6.5 Equivalence and equivalence effect 40 2.6.5.1 A critical assessment 42 2.6.5.2 Concluding remarks 44 2.6.6 Views on equivalence and translation 44 2.6.6.1 Opponent of the term equivalence 46 2.6.7 Interpretive approaches 48 2.6.7.1 A critical assessment 52 2.6.8. Translatability and untranslatability of the Quran 53 2.7 Conclusion 58 Chapter Three: Understanding Arabic and English metaphors 60 3.1 Introduction 60 3.2 Defining metaphors 60 3.3 understanding Metaphors 61 v 3.4 Factual and emotive language types 63 3.5 Figurative Languages 64 3.6 Definitions of some types of figurative language in English 64 3.6.1 Metonymy 64 3.6.2 Simile 67 3.6.3 Synecdoche 68 3.7 English understanding of metaphors 69 3.7.1 Metaphorical components in English 72 3.8 English views of metaphors 74 3.8.1 The Substitution Theory 74 3.8.1. lA critical assessment 75 3.8.2 The comparison theory 76 3.8.2.lA critical assessment 76 3.8.3 The Interaction theory 77 3.8.3.1 A critical assessment 78 3.8.4 The Conceptual theory 78 3.8.4.1 A critical assessment 79 3.9 Background of figure of speech in Arabic 80 3.9.1 Definitions of some types of figurative language in Arabic 82 3.9.1.1 Simile (~I) 'al-tashbih' 82 3.9.1.2 Metonymy (~~I) 86 3.9.1.3 Synecdoche 'J...yJl j4.,JI' 'al- majjaz al-mursal' 88 VI 3.10 Arabic metaphors 89 3.10.1 Metaphor Components in Arabic 90 3.10.2 Classifications of a metaphor in Arabic 91 3.11 Arab scholars' views on metaphors 92 3.11.1 Concluding remarks 104 3.12 Figurative language of the Quran lOS 3.12.1 Quranic metaphors lOS 3.12.2 Classifications of metaphors of the Quran 107 3.12.2.1 Abstract to concrete metaphor ((.)"_,....l.o!(.)"."...-l J;- •.)t.Li....I) 107 3.12.2 ..2 Concrete to abstract metaphor (Jfo.J (.)"_,....l.o!(.)"~ • .J..a!...I) 108 3.12.2 ..3 Concrete to concrete metaphor ((.)"."...-l (.)"y;L./(.)"~ •.)t.Li....I) 108 3.12.2.4 Abstract to abstract metaphor (Jfo.J Jji.a..oi.)t.Li....I) 109 3.12.2.5 Body parts metaphors 109 3.12.2.6 Animalizing metaphors 110 3.12.2.7 Metaphor used images of colour 110 3.12.2.8 Personified metaphor III 3.12.2.9 Metaphors refers to the use of antonyms III 3.13 Conclusion 112 Chapter Four: Translating Metaphors 114 4.1 Introduction 114 4.2 Metaphors and translation 114 4.3 Views on the translation of metaphors 115 VII 4.3.1 Procedures of transfer 116 4.3.2 Text- typologies trends 119 4.3.3 Culture specification 120 4.4 Types of Metaphors in English 123 4.4.1 Fowler's classifications of metaphor 124 4.4.2 Newmark's classifications of metaphors 124 4.4.2.a Dead Metaphors 124 4.4.2.b Cliche metaphors 125 4.4.2.c Stock! standard metaphors 125 4.4.2.d Recent metaphors 126 4.4.2.e Original metaphors 126 4.4.2.f Adopted metaphors 126 4.4.3 Dickins' classifications 127 4.4.3.a Lexicalized metaphor 128 4.4.3.b Non-lexicalized metaphor 129 4.4.4 Zahid's classifications of metaphor 129 4.4.4.a Common metaphors 130 4.4.4.b Specific metaphors 130 4.5 Metaphor and culture 132 4.6 Conclusion 136 Chapter Five: Research Methodology 137 5.1 Introduction 137 VIII 5.2 Research methodology 137 5.3 Research Paradigm 139 5.3.1 Positivist paradigm 140 5.3.2 Interpretivism and the post- positivism paradigm 142 5.4 Quantitative vs. Qualitative research methods 143 5.4.1 Quantitative approach 144 5.4.1.a Strengths of quantitative Research 144 5.4.1.b Weaknesses of quantitative approach 145 5.4.2 Qualitative Research approach 145 5.4.2.a Strengths of the qualitative approach 146 5.4.2.b Weaknesses of qualitative approach 147 5.4.3 The mixed methods approach 150 5.4.3.a Aims of mixed methods research 151 5.4.3.b Strengths of the mixed method approach 152 5.4.3.e Weaknesses of the mixed methods approach 152 5.5 Research methodology of the study 153 5.5.1 The questionnaire as a data collection method 155 5.5.1.a Advantages and disadvantages of choosing the use of questionnaires 156 5.5.2 Questionnaire 157 5.5.3 Aim of the Questionnaire 161 5.5.4 The structure of the questionnaire 161 5.6 Justification of the selection of metaphors used in the Questionnaire 163 IX 5.7 Population sample of the questionnaire 163 5.8 Distribution of the Questionnaire 164 5.8.1 Number of distributed and received questionnaires 165 5.9 Interviews 165 5.10 Pilot study 167 5.11 Reliability and validity 168 5.11.1 Reliability 168 5.11.2 Validity 169 5.12 Ethics issues 170 5.13 Generalisability 170 5.14 Conclusion 171 Chapter Six: Data Analysis 173 6.1 Introduction 173 6.2 Summary of respondents' profile 173 6.3 Questionnaire development and survey responses 174 6.3.1 Verse 1: metaphor 174 6.3.1.a Verse 1: transliteration 175 6.3.1.b Verse 1: translation (Pickthall2004) 175 6.3.1.c Verse 1: metaphorical meaning 175 6.3.2 Verse 2: metaphor 178 6.3.2. a Verse 2:transliteration 178 6.3.2.b Verse 2: translation (Ali 1983) 178 x 6.3.2.c Verse 2: metaphorical meaning 178 6.3.3 Verse 3: Metaphor 181 6.3.3.a Verse 3: transliteration 182 6.3.3.b Verse 3: translation (Arberry 1996) 182 6.3.3.c Verse 3:metaphorical meaning 182 6.3.4 Verse 4: metaphor 185 6.3.4.a. Verse 4: transliteration 185 6.3.4.b. Verse 4: translation (Picktha1l2004) 185 6.3.4.c. Verse 4: metaphorical meaning 185 6.3.5 Verse 5: metaphor 188 6.3.5.a Verse 5: transliteration 188 6.3.5.b Verse 5: translation (Ali 1983) 189 6.3.5.c Verse 5: metaphorical meaning 189 6.3.6 Verse 6: metaphor 191 6.3.6.a Verse 6: transliteration 191 6.3.6.b Verse 6: translation (ArberryI996) 191 6.3.6.c Verse 6: metaphorical meaning 191 6.3.7 Verse7: metaphor 194 6.3.7.a Verse 7: translitration 194 6.3.7.b Verse 7: translation (PickthaIl2004) 194 6.3.7.c Verse 7: metaphorical meaning 194 6.3.8 Verse 8: metaphor 197 XI 6.3.8.a Verse 8: transliteration 197 6.3.8.b Verse 8: translation (Ali 1983) 197 6.3.8.c Verse 8: metaphorical meaning 197 6.3.9 Verse 9: metaphor 200 6.3.9.a Verse 9: transliteration 200 6.3.9.b Verse 9: translation (ArberryI996) 200 6.3.9.c Verse 9: metaphorical meaning 200 6.3.10 Verse 10: metaphor 202 6.3.10.