ground or sense with the same word “language”. These translations do
not create any problem of understanding source metaphor in the target language TL.
The last translator produces a different translation in this verse; he renders source metaphor with the same vehicle in TL. However, this type
of translation also does not create any problem, because the meaning of “tongue” as “a language” is available in English language.
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In this verse, the translation of Asad is better than the other three translators, because
the term of tongue is shared between Arabic and English language, then translation with the same vehicle will keep the term of meaning and the
beatifull structure of metaphor of the source language.
c. Chapter Aal-Imraan 7
1 Translations
a Yusuf Ali: He it is Who has sent down to thee the Book: In it are
verses basic or fundamental of established meaning; they are the foundation of the Book: others are allegorical. p. 150
b Pickthall: He it is Who hath revealed unto thee Muhammad the
Scripture wherein are clear revelations. They are the substance of the Book. and others which are allegorical. p. 63.
c Hilali and Khan: It is He Who has sent down to you Muhammad [sal-
Allahu alayhi wa sallam] the Book this Quran. In it are Verses that
67
Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary 2000, loc. cit.
are entirely clear, they are the foundations of the Book [and those are the Verses of Al-Ahkam commandments, Al-Faraid obligatory
duties and Al-Hudud laws for the punishment of thieves, adulterers]; and others not entirely clear. p. 68.
d M Asad: He it is who has bestowed upon thee from on high this divine
writ, containing messages that are clear in and by themselves - and these are the essence of the divine writ - as well as others that are
allegorical. p. 66. 2
Context of the Verse This verse is about the revelation of Holy Qur‟an. In it are decisive
verses, which are the basis of the Book, while others are allegorical.
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3 Types of Metaphor
The word umm has a literal meaning mother
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, but in this verse, it is used to express
a basic or fundamental of the Holy Qur‟an. This type of stock lexicalized metaphor and it is shared between two languages;
where in informal English language we can find the meaning of mother which contains of something important.
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The tenor of this metaphor is basic, or fundamental of some verses, where the ground is the position of
mother which is basic, fundamental and important for her child. 4
Translation Analysis
68
Al Muntakhab fi Tafsi ri al Qur’an 1968, op.cit. p. 71
69
Hans Wehr, Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic, ed. J. Milton Cowan Beirut: Dar el- Mashreq, 2005, p. 25
70
Oxford Advanced Learner ’s Dictionary 2000, op.cit p. 864
All the English translations have chosen the same technique in this stock metaphor translation, although they present different word in TL.
Yusuf Ali and Hilali use “foundation,” where the others come with
substance and essence, both words have the same intended meaning, and all of them are literal word.
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The technique of English translation in this verse is replacing source metaphor with the literal word in TL, or
translating metaphor into sense or ground. This type of translation makes an easy understanding to the foreign reader, although it can omit the
beatifull metaphor of the source language. In this case, translating with the same vehicle is the better techique, because both of the source and
target language can cohabite in harmony; language and culture, then, become one entity, and so make the task of the translator less
complicated.
d. Chapter al- Qosos 59
