Translation of the sex-related Qur'ānic euphemism into English
[Thesis]
Al-Barakati, Mohammed
Lahlali, E. M.
University of Leeds
2013
Thesis (Ph.D.)
2013
The present research investigates how euphemistic expressions in the Qur'an are translated into English. The study approaches the topic from a functional point of view framing it mainly within Nord's version of Skopos theory together with the equivalence and response-oriented theories of Nida and Newmark. This study has textually and contextually analysed 29 Qur'an verses which included some 43 sex-related expressions. Then, three contemporary translations have been textually analysed and the translation procedures chosen for the rendering of these euphemistic expressions were defined. The analysis was also aided by questionnaire results which gauged target reader recognition of the euphemistic expressions in the translations. Two translators have also contributed to this study have been interviewed about their translating processes, the strategies they have adopted and the translation aids they used to fulfil the mission of translation. The analysis has revealed some interesting findings. It has been found that Qur'an translations are very much source-oriented and translators tend not to deviate much from the source language forms and structures. It was also found that translators' faithfulness has led to a successful rendering of most of the euphemistic expressions analysed in the study.