Papers by Aladdin Al-Tarawneh
Deleted Journal, May 27, 2024
This article explores the little-known need for the role of legal interpreters in the courtroom, ... more This article explores the little-known need for the role of legal interpreters in the courtroom, particularly in criminal proceedings. This article, based on research in the professional literature, explores common misconceptions about the role of the legal translator, experienced by experienced professionals and likely experienced by many others in the courtroom. This article attempts to shed light on the complexities of legal translation and the challenges it faces in the criminal justice system. The article highlights important circumstances of the role of law, equality and justice can only be achieved if translations meet the highest standards. It also argues that safeguarding the integrity of the evidence and the defendant's right to a fair trial is accomplished by accurate translation. To achieve this, we use qualitative methods to tease out the full meaning of the topic through a scientific and insightful process.
Jordan journal of modern languages and literature, Sep 1, 2023
This study concerns the health of the Gypsy minority of Jordan amid the coronavirus/Covid-19 pand... more This study concerns the health of the Gypsy minority of Jordan amid the coronavirus/Covid-19 pandemic, and language services available and their effect on the public health. The study finds that this minority group was excluded from consideration by the authorities in their attempts to counter the pandemic. This study is a qualitative investigation, adopting an ethnographic model to elicit data from the target sample. The findings reveal that the Jordanian Gypsies were overlooked, mainly because their language (Domari) is not one of the languages supported by the country's translation services. Moreover, due to the minority's paucity of schooling and high illiteracy rates, together with their belief in supernatural powers and superstitions, their concept of the disease is erroneous, and Covid-19 therefore has the potential to take a significant toll on both the Gypsies and the wider community in which they live. This study recommends that the authorities and related bodies, such as academic institutions, should launch a training program to qualify Gypsy volunteers to provide translation services in the form of citizen translators.
Studies in Media and Communication, Dec 9, 2023
This investigation delves into the position of youthful migrants who step up as interpreters in t... more This investigation delves into the position of youthful migrants who step up as interpreters in their linguistically eclectic surroundings to help their parents navigate life. The focus is on the Gypsy minority located in Jordan, known for being disregarded by authorities in their response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The research seeks to gather information through a qualitative examination that institutes an ethnographic approach. The interviewees were 63 youngsters aged between 11-17 years old who provided profound insights during the semi-structured interviews. Gypsies, who live in tents on the outskirts of Zarqa, were the participants of the study. The study aims to show that Gypsies possess an oral tradition and face challenges in communicating with authorities. Additionally, the study aims to highlight the critical role that young immigrants play in improving the lives of their elders. Amidst the results, it surfaced that the Jordanian Gypsies were often disregarded. This is primarily due to the fact that their language, Domari, is not one that the country's translation services accommodate. Furthermore, the community's lack of education and high rates of adult illiteracy meant that the younger generation, who have received mandatory schooling, had to step in as intermediaries between the Gypsies and authority figures.
Journal of Religion and Violence, 2021
There is considerable evidence that many translations of the Quran constitute fertile ground for ... more There is considerable evidence that many translations of the Quran constitute fertile ground for the radicalization of a large number of Western Muslims, particularly those who do not speak Arabic as their mother tongue. While a handful of previous studies have addressed the factors engendering terrorism, more remains to be said regarding the roots thereof. Therefore, this article employs the narrative theory of translation studies (TS) to highlight how these texts are manipulated through their translation, in order to deceive and brainwash young Muslims in the West. It argues that terrorist groups are successful in creating a radicalized discourse by injecting their violent ideology into Quran translations and by framing the facts to serve their objectives. This discourse is masked by the holiness of the Quran that is not questionable for Muslims. The article concludes that many translations of the Quran are dangerous and instantiate a supportive tool for terrorist groups in their ...
The discourse concerning Islam, and in particular the translation of the Quran, has had a profoun... more The discourse concerning Islam, and in particular the translation of the Quran, has had a profound impact on Western views of Muslim women. Most Quran translations are stained with mistranslations, resulting from translators adopting the literal approach for religious reasons that we will explore. This has an impact on many aspects of meaning, but especially the representation of women. It should be noted that this article is not influenced by the views of feminist groups who focus on seeking new interpretations of the Quran. Instead, it pinpoints the genuine interpretation lost in translation. This article endeavors to identify the translational mistakes, and their influence on the image of women, through a comparison with the original text in terms of linguistic and paralinguistic features found in the Quran. The article adopts the interpretive approach in the form of a multiple-case study to clarify the mistranslated cases and to provide genuine interpretation as understood withi...
International journal of humanities and social sciences, 2018
The Quran, as it is the sacred book of Islam and considered the literal word of God (Allah) in Ar... more The Quran, as it is the sacred book of Islam and considered the literal word of God (Allah) in Arabic, is highly translated into many languages; however, the foreignising or the literal approach excessively stains the quality and discredits the final product in the eyes of its receptors. Such an approach fails to capture the intended meaning of the Quran and to communicate it in any language. Therefore, this study is conducted to propose a different approach that seeks involving other ones according to a hybrid model. Indeed, this study challenges the binary adherence that is highly used in Translation Studies (TS) in general and in the translation of the Quran in particular. Drawing on the genuine fact that the Quran can be communicated in any language in terms of meaning, and the translation is not sacred; this paper approaches the translation of the Quran by blending different methods like domestication or foreignisation in a systematic way, avoiding the binary choice made by man...
This chapter considers three key Islamic evaluative concepts often (mis)translated into English a... more This chapter considers three key Islamic evaluative concepts often (mis)translated into English as friendship, justice, and retaliation. Relying on linguistic techniques—co-text and componential analysis—and the Quran exegesis, three concepts are discussed in various translations in search for the optimal translation into English. Al-Tarawneh argues that translating the Quran by espousing only a formal approach would compromise its credibility. Moreover, this chapter highlights two essential points in Quran translation. First, not everything is translatable: concepts unique to the source culture need to be preserved through transliteration and explained in annotations. Secondly, the translator accepting a commission for a translation of the Quran has to be well informed about context-dependent verses.
Journal of Religion and Violence , 2021
There is considerable evidence that many translations of the Quran constitute fertile ground for ... more There is considerable evidence that many translations of the Quran constitute fertile ground for the radicalization of a large number of Western Muslims, particularly those who do not speak Arabic as their mother tongue. While a handful of previous studies have addressed the factors engendering terrorism, more remains to be said regarding the roots thereof. Therefore, this article employs the narrative theory of translation studies (TS) to highlight how these texts are manipulated through their translation, in order to deceive and brainwash young Muslims in the West. It argues that terrorist groups are successful in creating a radicalized discourse by injecting their violent ideology into Quran translations and by framing the facts to serve their objectives. This discourse is masked by the holiness of the Quran that is not questionable for Muslims. The article concludes that many translations of the Quran are dangerous and instantiate a supportive tool for terrorist groups in their attempts to brainwash Muslims and secure recruits within Western communities. The article recommends the engagement of Western governments in monitoring the circulation of Quran translations and even in undertaking a role in institutionalizing the process of translation, rather than leaving it in the hands of unqualified individuals. 1
Journal of Religion and Violence , 2021
There is considerable evidence that many translations of the Quran constitute fertile ground for ... more There is considerable evidence that many translations of the Quran constitute fertile ground for the radicalization of a large number of Western Muslims, particularly those who do not speak Arabic as their mother tongue. While a handful of previous studies have addressed the factors engendering terrorism, more remains to be said regarding the roots thereof. Therefore, this article employs the narrative theory of translation studies (TS) to highlight how these texts are manipulated through their translation, in order to deceive and brainwash young Muslims in the West. It argues that terrorist groups are successful in creating a radicalized discourse by injecting their violent ideology into Quran translations and by framing the facts to serve their objectives. This discourse is masked by the holiness of the Quran that is not questionable for Muslims. The article concludes that many translations of the Quran are dangerous and instantiate a supportive tool for terrorist groups in their attempts to brainwash Muslims and secure recruits within Western communities. The article recommends the engagement of Western governments in monitoring the circulation of Quran translations and even in undertaking a role in institutionalizing the process of translation, rather than leaving it in the hands of unqualified individuals. 1
Hamdard Islamicus, 2020
In Qur'Én translations, the muqaÏÏa'āt offer their audience a fertile ground for debate because o... more In Qur'Én translations, the muqaÏÏa'āt offer their audience a fertile ground for debate because of the absence of unanimous agreement on their meanings and function in the original Arabic text. To address the problem, this article presents a different approach to interpret the muqaÏÏa'āt in Arabic and then attempts to convey this meaning in the translation of the Qur'Én. The new translation is more intelligible than the current transliterations or ambiguous statements found in many versions. This aim is fulfilled by considering the translation studies (TS) perspective through its grounding in the skopos theory. Moreover, the Hebrew language, despite the rejection of early and recent Muslim scholars, is deemed pivotal to the elucidation of the muqaÏÏa'āt. It highlights the role of muqaÏÏa'āt in discharging the function of a thematic summary of what is to follow in a particular chapter (as introductory remarks to the entire content of a chapter). Hebrew evidences that translators of the Qur'Én should go beyond the literalist approach and Muslim scholars should deter inaccuracies driven from personal and intuitive attempts and contemplate resources beyond the Qur'Én.
THE ISLAMIC QUARTERLY, 2019
In its literal translation, the Qur’an is frequently subject to
misinterpretation as a result of ... more In its literal translation, the Qur’an is frequently subject to
misinterpretation as a result of failures to deliver its meaning in another
language. Drawing on the fact that the Qur’an is, by its nature, intended to
be an oral performance, and with a specific focus on the delivery of the
Qur’an’s meaning in English, this paper addresses the translation of the
Qur’an in a way that differs from the usual formal linguistic approach, in
order to include the extra-linguistic factor of its recitation or oral
performance, or tajwīd as it is termed in Arabic. The translations employed
in this paper were carefully chosen to illustrate the problems that exist in
many Qur’an translations. These translations are The Meaning of the
HolyQuran: Translation and Commentary by Ali (1989), The Meaning of
the Glorious Koranby Pickthall (1997/1930), and The Quran: Arabic Text
with Corresponding English Meanings by Sahih (2010).
By citing examples, this paper argues that the agents involved in producing
a ‘translation’ of the Holy Qur’an should take into account its oral aspect,
which yields additional understanding and meaning that is not captured by
adhering to the words of the ‘written’ discourse alone. This paper attempts
to address and incorporate the performance dimension of the Qur’an, an
aspect that is generally overlooked in its translation into English.
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Papers by Aladdin Al-Tarawneh
misinterpretation as a result of failures to deliver its meaning in another
language. Drawing on the fact that the Qur’an is, by its nature, intended to
be an oral performance, and with a specific focus on the delivery of the
Qur’an’s meaning in English, this paper addresses the translation of the
Qur’an in a way that differs from the usual formal linguistic approach, in
order to include the extra-linguistic factor of its recitation or oral
performance, or tajwīd as it is termed in Arabic. The translations employed
in this paper were carefully chosen to illustrate the problems that exist in
many Qur’an translations. These translations are The Meaning of the
HolyQuran: Translation and Commentary by Ali (1989), The Meaning of
the Glorious Koranby Pickthall (1997/1930), and The Quran: Arabic Text
with Corresponding English Meanings by Sahih (2010).
By citing examples, this paper argues that the agents involved in producing
a ‘translation’ of the Holy Qur’an should take into account its oral aspect,
which yields additional understanding and meaning that is not captured by
adhering to the words of the ‘written’ discourse alone. This paper attempts
to address and incorporate the performance dimension of the Qur’an, an
aspect that is generally overlooked in its translation into English.
misinterpretation as a result of failures to deliver its meaning in another
language. Drawing on the fact that the Qur’an is, by its nature, intended to
be an oral performance, and with a specific focus on the delivery of the
Qur’an’s meaning in English, this paper addresses the translation of the
Qur’an in a way that differs from the usual formal linguistic approach, in
order to include the extra-linguistic factor of its recitation or oral
performance, or tajwīd as it is termed in Arabic. The translations employed
in this paper were carefully chosen to illustrate the problems that exist in
many Qur’an translations. These translations are The Meaning of the
HolyQuran: Translation and Commentary by Ali (1989), The Meaning of
the Glorious Koranby Pickthall (1997/1930), and The Quran: Arabic Text
with Corresponding English Meanings by Sahih (2010).
By citing examples, this paper argues that the agents involved in producing
a ‘translation’ of the Holy Qur’an should take into account its oral aspect,
which yields additional understanding and meaning that is not captured by
adhering to the words of the ‘written’ discourse alone. This paper attempts
to address and incorporate the performance dimension of the Qur’an, an
aspect that is generally overlooked in its translation into English.