Fidelity in Rendering the Quranic Arabic Homonymous Words Sawai into English in Light of Skopos Theory

Abstract

This analytical study aims to identify discrepancies in the fidelity of translating the Qurʾānic Arabic homonymous words sawāi سَوَاءِ into English. This study adopts a qualitative approach with a qualitative design, as it hinges on perspectives and reviews rather than quantitative evidence. Also, the study shows that fidelity in translation can be understood through the lens of Skopos theory, which is utilized in this study as a frame of reference. Furthermore, the findings reveal that some translators occasionally rely on interpretive translations and succeed in capturing the intended meaning of the Qurʾānic Arabic homonymous words sawāi سَوَاءِ into English in the schemes they are targeting. In other cases, however, they lean on literal translations, often aiming to convey the connotative meaning of these Qurʾānic Arabic homonymous words. Several challenges and losses were found in the three English translations explored: fidelity in translation occupies a role in gauging the fidelity of a rendered text. The study also indicates that the translation of the Holy Qur’an in general, and of the Qurʾānic Arabic homonymous words sawāi سَوَاءِ in particular, should be led by its Skopos rather than unrealistically focusing on achieving fidelity.