Detailed Abstract
Research Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the semantic cohesion and coherence within the text of Surah Ash-Shams (Qur’an 91), as well as its translation by Bahā'uddin Khorramshahi. The authors intend to describe the similarities and differences in the factors of cohesion and coherence between the Arabic text of the Qur’an and Khorramshahi's translation using a descriptive-analytical approach. This research aims to provide readers with a deeper understanding of linguistic cohesion and coherence.
Research Methodology: In this study, a descriptive-analytical method is used to first analyze the factors of cohesion and coherence in the Arabic text of Surah Ash-Shams (Qur’an 91). Then, the issue of cohesion and coherence in Bahā'uddin Khorramshahi’s Persian translation is addressed. Finally, a comparison of the semantic cohesion and coherence factors of Surah’s text and its translation was conducted, with the similarities and differences being identified and presented in a table.
Research Findings: The findings of this research show that, among the various cohesive factors, reference, ellipsis, and repetition contribute to maintaining the cohesion and uniformity of both Surah’s text and its translation. Furthermore, among the factors of semantic coherence, attention to context, exegetical principles, and similarity contribute to the coherence of meaning, with the following differences: in the case of pronominal reference, demonstrative pronouns are used according to Persian grammar to avoid noun repetition, and in some instances, verbal ellipsis has not been applied in the translation. Overall, it is observed that the translator has correctly understood and comprehended the text as a reader and has not deviated from its main subject in the translation. Therefore, the Surah's text and its translation are related in terms of cohesion and semantic coherence.
Conclusion: Among the different cohesive factors, reference, ellipsis, lexical repetition, and repetition through contrast, as well as conjunctions like additive conjunctions and temporal conjunctions, contribute to the cohesion and uniformity of the text. In this context, reference with pronouns and ellipsis, such as the omission of the verb " أقسم- uqsim" (lit. I swear), is observed in the Surah text. Regarding the pronouns, it can be said that their use in Surah Ash-Shams is frequent. However, in the Persian translation, some pronouns were translated maintaining their connected and absent features, while others were translated using the equivalent of a demonstrative pronoun. Considering that in Persian grammar, demonstrative pronouns are used to avoid the repetition of nouns, and when talking about objects, "آن -an" (lit. ‘that’) is used instead of "او-ū" (lit. he/she), the translated text still preserves the cohesion and integrity of the original text by using the demonstrative pronoun "آن -an".
As for ellipsis, the "و - wa" (lit. and) in the first verse, "والشمس" (By the sun), is a particle of swearing, and according to Arabic grammar, the verb "أقسم" (I swear) has been omitted. Therefore, the translator has interpreted it as "swear by the sun". However, in subsequent sentences of the Surah, the "و" is a conjunction, and the verb "أقسم" has been omitted to avoid repetition, as seen in the Persian translation. The translator in most cases used the word "swear" even in sentences where the "و" is a conjunction, as an equivalent for the particle of swearing.
Among the lexical cohesive factors, repetition of words and contrast repetition between words are observed. This relationship has been well reflected in the Persian translation, where the translator has used appropriate equivalents to show this connection, maintaining the text’s cohesion. Also, the lexical collocation in Surah Ash-Shams, with words such as "Shams, Qamar, Arḍ, samā'" (lit. sun, moon, earth, sky), is evident. In the Persian translation, the equivalents "Khurshīd=sun; Māh=moon; Zamīn=earth; Ᾱsimān=sky" were used.
Among the conjunctive devices, additive and temporal conjunctions are observed in the Surah, with "و - wa" (lit. ‘and’) used for additive connection and the letter "فاء – fa" (lit. then/so) is used to establish a temporal connection. The translator used Persian words like "āngāh - then" and "sepas - afterward" as equivalents for the letter "فاء – fa", indicating temporal sequence.
Regarding semantic coherence factors, attention to context, exegetical principles, and similarity contribute to the creation of coherence in meaning. In terms of context, it is observed that the translator has effectively found appropriate meanings and equivalents for translating polysemous words by paying close attention to the surrounding context.