A Methodology of Translations of Metaphorical Images of the Scenes of the Day of Judgment in the Quran based on Newmark's Model

The meaning of metaphorical images hold a significant place within semantic and translation discussions, more visible in the translations of scriptures like the Holy Quran. One of the models of translation of metaphorical images within modern Translation Studies is Peter Newmark's model that emphasizes the translatability of metaphors. Newmark introduces seven strategies for translating metaphors relying on which, metaphorical images can be transferred to the target language. The present critical descriptive-analytical study in light of Newmark's theory analyzed translation methods of metaphorical images of the Judgment Day's scenes in the Quran and besides explicating the translation methods of metaphorical expressions, evaluated five Persian translations of the last two ajza' of the Quran. To this end, 56 metaphorical images of the scenes of the Judgment Day were compared with 280 equivalents of them. The results indicate that out of the seven methods Newmark proposes, Elahi Ghomshei employed five, Rezaie Esfahani and Fouladvand used four and Ayati and Moezzi used three methods. The dominant translation approach is literal translation and this shows that translators instead of an explicit transfer of meanings have tried to recreate the metaphors in the target language. Among the translation methods, Ayati, Moezzi and Fouladvand mostly used literal translation while Elahi Ghomsheir employed semantic translation and Rezaie's method was literal translation with commentary.