The Effect of Ellipsis on Differences between English Translations of the Holy Qur’an

Abstract

Ellipsis, as one of the rhetorical textual elements, is used in different languages in different ways. In ‎the Holy Qur’an, with all its unique miraculous rhetorical features which makes it stand on the highest ‎level of eloquence, ellipsis is used in three ways: ellipsis of the letters, ellipsis of the words and ellipsis ‎of the sentences; which leads to different results such as: simplification of understanding the concepts ‎of the verses, resolving the complications in comprehending the true meaning of the Qur’an, making ‎the meaning of the text more comprehensive, beautifying the rhythm and making the verses rhyming. ‎Considering the differences between Arabic and English structures, and the importance of translating ‎the Qur’an in a correct and meticulous way for the accurate understanding of the words of God, this ‎research studies different cases of the ellipsis in the verses of the Qur’an and compares them in the ‎four English translations (Arberry, Irving, Yusuf Ali and Qara’i) to understand how ellipsis can affect the ‎English translations of the Holy Qur’an and make them differ from each other. The result is that the ‎translations of Qara’i and Yusuf Ali are closest to the meaning of the verses by designating the omitted ‎words and phrases of the Holy Qur'an.‎