AN ANALYSIS OF VENUTI’S DOMESTICATION AND FOREGNIZATION OF NOUNS IN THE TRANSLATIONS OF SELECTED VERSES OF SURAH AL-QASAS

Abstract

The paper in hands aims to discuss the concept of domestication and foreignization from the perspective of translation studies. People usually domesticize or foreignize texts to achieve certain goals. However, this, in the field of translation studies in general and in theological or religious translations in particular, can create a big problem for the readers. The paper analyzes two translations of some of the nouns and Arabic letters mentioned in first 15 verses of Surah Al-Qasas (chapter 28). It has been explored through the conceptual framework made of Venuti’s Domestication and Foreignization and Newmark’s criticism plan that mostly these nouns are domesticated which is the prime cause of confusion between them and Biblical references. It is, therefore, recommended that translators need to understand this difference and needs to be careful in this regard. Similarly, researchers should also focus this issue and apply it to other aspects of religious or non-religious texts for more in-depth understanding of the issues. In addition, this should also be taught in the classrooms to the novice translators for circumventing the problem in future translations.