Proposing a Solution to solve the Polysemy of Words in Translating the Quran; (a Case Study of the Three Words "Tāmmah", "Sāhira" and "Da'ḥā" in Russian Translations by Krachkovsky and Zinalouf )

Abstract

Polysemy refers to a specific type of linguistic relationship in which a linguistic unit refers to several different meanings that are conceptually related to each other. This issue is of special importance in the discussion of translating the Qur'an because the translator has to choose an equivalent and in fact the best equivalent for that word in his Qur'anic context and choosing a concept means guiding the Qur'anic text in the flow of that concept. In the present article, considering the specific structure of the text of the Qur'an, what is the best way to eliminate the ambiguity of words in its translation? To answer this question, three words "daḥā دحا", "tammat:طامه" and "sāhira: "ساهرةin Surah Naze'at: nâze'at have been examined by data analysis method in the text of the Qur'an. The best and most documented equivalent in the translation of the Qur'an can be obtained if the semantic context of the word and the specific context of the Qur'an, which is called Seyagh, are used simultaneously at three levels of words, verses and verses before and after. It has been studied in two Russian translations by Krachkovsky and Zinalouf.

Extended abstract:

Polysemy is a term in Linguistics, which refers to the existence of several connected meanings in one semantic unit generally is a word. This linguistic-cognitive concept has also been referred by the Scholars of the Islamic Studies Tradition, and it has been considered as "Spiritual Sharing" or "Semantic Aspects". In Linguistic, the opposite discussion of "Polysemy" is "Homonymy". The most important method that linguists propose to distinguish polysemy from homonym is the study of historical course of common words through Etymology. But this suggestion is not enough to remove the polysemy in Quranic words, because the roots of many words cannot be discovered and examined in terms of their historical course, and they may have undergone semantic changes over the centuries.

Therefore, new methods must be sought to solve problems related to the translation of the Qur'an into other languages. Because of the growing Muslim population of the world, the neglect of translating the Qur'an and not criticizing it by scientific societies and translation publications in the world, in addition to reducing contact with its Muslim audience and ignoring their Bible, in a way They will also deprive themselves of communication with the multifaceted text of the Qur'an, which also has wonderful in-text and structural features.

Consequently, seems that criticizing the translations of the Qur'an in various aspects will be a valuable work by these scientific circles. In-text studies of the Qur'an show that the text itself can be used to solve this problem, and this article intends to use the in-text tools to examine the polysemy in translations of the Qur'an.

Accordingly, the method in this paper is data analysis and conclusions based on them. The results show that if the semantic context of the word and the specific context of the Qur'an, which is called Seyagh, are used simultaneously in three levels of words, verses and verses (before and after), the best and most documented equivalent in the translation of the Qur'an can be achieved. It has been studied in two Russian translations, Krachkovsky and Zinalf.