Narratives of (un)translatability: the recurrent case of the Qur’an

Abstract

Many narratives circulate around the translation of the Qur’an, but perhaps the most tenacious one concerns the sacred book’s (un)translatability. While certainly relevant to discussions of Qur’an translation, the issue of (un)translatability seems, however, to be paid a disproportionate and unwarranted level of attention in mainstream translation studies literature on the subject. This dynamic is at least partly informed by entrenched Eurocentric narratives about translation and the text of the Qur’an, especially as it relates to the Bible. This article explores Qur’anic (un)translatability by presenting the results of a thematic meta-analysis of articles on Qur’an translation that appear in two major translation studies bibliographic databases (BITRA and TSB). It lays out some recurrent themes in Qur’an translation scholarship and highlights the stubborn presence of the issue of (un)translatability. The article also identifies the Eurocentric narratives and value judgements that may well underlie and explain some of this presence.