Linguistic Ambiguity in the Holy Qur’ān and Its English Translations

Abstract

The present paper aims at classifying different types of ambiguities in the Holy Qur’ān and then evaluating and criticizing the made English translations of the ambiguous verses. To do so, a classification of linguistic ambiguity is offered and the samples of these classifications from the Holy Qur’ān are mentioned. The ambiguous verses are classified as phonological, lexico-semantic and conjugational structural ambiguities. The qualities of translations and English translation strategies of the stated verses are also investigated. There are many linguistic ambiguous verses in the Holy Qur’ān that may cause a trouble for a translator.