Nahjolbalagheh Research

Nahjolbalagheh Research

A Critical Review of Two English Translations of Nahj al-Balagha Based on the Text Distortion System: With an Emphasis on Metaphors

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Leila Niknasab 1
Ensiyeh Asgari 2
Amireh Niknam pirzadeh 3
1 faculty member of foreign languages Department of Hazrat-e-Masoumeh University.Qom.Iran.
2 Favulty member of department of Qu'ran and Hadith Studies, Hazrat -e- Masoumeh University, Qom, Iran.
3 Graduated from Nahj al-Balagheh, Hazrat Masoumeh University
Abstract
This research analyzes two English translations of Nahj al-Balagha based on Antoine Berman's (2010) translation criticism model. Nahj al-Balagha, as a religious-literary text with eloquent language and rich literary devices, requires translation criticism based on literary models. Berman, with a source-oriented approach, introduces twelve deformative tendencies, some of which are obligatory and stem from the structure of the target language and are not examined in this research. The main focus is on tendencies where the translator, with freedom of action, moves towards text distortion. This research, using a descriptive-analytical method, examines two English translations of Nahj al-Balagha (Foroutan and Marashi, 2022; Askari Jafari, 1999). The results show that both translations contain distortion, but the distortion in Foroutan and Marashi's translation is less and has a more source-oriented approach. In contrast, Askari Jafari, by prioritizing the transfer of meaning, has chosen a target-oriented approach and has acted audience-oriented in most cases. This difference in approach has led to a distinction in the degree of distortion and fidelity to the original text.
Keywords
Text distortion system, translation criticism, Nahj al-Balagha, deformative tendencies, translation strategies
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