RELIGIOUS TERMINOLOGY IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Samina N Dazdarevic
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Abstract
This work will lay stress on the religion as a linguistic enterprise, and that language is a principal tool for understanding a religion, in this case Islam. The relationship between Islam and Arabic leads us to the relationship between English and Islam. There is some distortion through transliteration and spelling of Arabic words, and distortion through translation of Arabic terms, so there is a need of standardization. Key words: religious language, Islam, Arabic, Islamic English, loanwords, translation, distortion
Figures (4)
Key takeaways
- On the other side, the Arabic language has without doubt served as a very effective medium for the communication of the message of Islam.
- In fact, the use of Arabic as the language of prayer is required of Muslims no matter what their native tongue may be.
- Nowadays, the lingua franca for business and science is English but Arabic has stayed lingua franca among Muslim word since Arabic is the language of prayer and worshipping.
- A Muslim name is in all likelihood an Arabic name.
- As all Muslims know, this Arabic word is best translated as 'struggle', whereas in English dictionaries, and in the West in general, it seems to be taken as synonymous with holy war.
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