The Role of Cohesion in Translation between Arabic and English with Reference to Surat An-Naba from the Noble Qur'an

Abstract

Cohesion is one of the most important linguistic features of text development in Arabic and English. It connects, unifies ideas and leads to the full understanding of the whole text. The study tries to prove that cohesion as a crucial linguistic factor to be considered in the process of translation between the two languages. It also claims that the issue of cohesion is nearly similar in both languages, though, there are differences in minor details because of the difference in structure of the two. In order to achieve this aim, the study examines the five Hallidayan (1976) cohesive devices: (i) reference, (ii) substitution, (iii) ellipsis, (vi)conjunction and (v) lexical items. These cohesive devices techniques are identifies investigated and analyzed in one of the famous Surats from the Noble Qur'an which is Surat Al-Naba No. (78) and against its English translated version by Muhammad Al-Hilali and Muhammad Khan (1984). The two texts ST and TT both are analyzed in terms of cohesion and its devices and how they are used to overcome problems that may encounter translation. The study concludes that translators between the two languages should be fully aware of the issue of cohesion and the use of its cohesive devices in order to convey the intended meaning of the original.