Equivalence and Translatability of Qur anic Discourse

Translation theory has recently witnessed a considerable degree of improvement, however, translation of the meaning of Qur anic discourse still poses a severe challenge for translators. The present study investigates the notion of equivalence and probes the difficulties caused by the distinctiveness of the Qur an in terms of linguistics, semantics and stylistics. The study puts forward for the first time the Qur anic Cognitive Model as a general theoretical framework or model for the purpose of understanding Qur anic discourse better. The study looks over the notion of nazm (order system) and the impact of the science of rhetoric on the degree of equivalence in translation of the meaning of the Qur an. Then an elaborated exemplary detail of the problems of translating the Qur an has been discussed and several selected translations of the meaning of the Qur an have been assessed. The study presents evidence to the effect that translation of the meaning of the Qur an constitutes a major area of difficulty for translators and interpreters.