Analysis of Untranslatability in the ۳۰th Chapter of the Holy Quran: A Catford-Based Comparative Study of Four English Translations

This study investigates untranslatability in the ۳۰th chapter of the Holy Quran using Catford's translation theory. Four English translations were analyzed comparatively to identify translation strategies and assess their appropriacy. The findings reveal that literal translation and reduction were the most frequently employed strategies across all translators. Muslim translators demonstrated slightly higher consistency in handling theological terms compared to non-Muslim translators. Results indicate that while literal translation worked well about ۸۷ percent of the time, reduction had lower success at around ۶۰ percent. This research contributes to understanding how religious identity influences translation decisions and confirms that untranslatability exists on a cline rather than as a binary condition. The study provides systematic analysis with practical implications for cross-cultural religious text communication.

کلیدواژه ها:

Quran translation ، untranslatability ، Catford's theory ، translation strategies ، comparative analysis ، religious discourse