69 million page views

Koran translations

Reader comment on item: Non-Muslim Politicians Immersed in the Koran
in response to reader comment: Koran translations need work...

Submitted by Ugri (Finland), Jan 13, 2009 at 04:45

English is my fourth language so I have not the same advantage as the native speakers in judging the relative merits of different translations of the Koran. What however strikes me as odd is the overall 'antique' flavor of the English language in specimens I have come across. An idea creeps into the mind that the translators have deliberately avoided using normal English prose in order to obfuscate the brutal message many times built into the text — which often is downright obscure.

As to the English Bible translations, there exist a number of editions written in plain everyday language ( see e.g. BibleGateway.com ). An example:

John 14:6 Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. (New International Version - UK)

Submitting....

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

Submit a comment on this item

<< Previous Comment      Next Comment >>

Reader comments (17) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Koran shows what Islam is [89 words]anonJan 11, 2009 20:27147791
Hadiths are shocking [44 words]mriitunjayMay 15, 2009 04:44147791
Dhimmitude of the highest order. [123 words]M.D'SouzaJan 5, 2009 11:15147005
Hey, cowardice rules! [6 words]kmanJan 6, 2009 23:57147005
Tony Blair a Christian? [44 words]UgriDec 31, 2008 08:11146424
Update This List Often Dr. Pipes [57 words]AnneMDec 31, 2008 06:35146414
Odd how politicians will finally read Koran & not Bible from which it was distorted ... [42 words]kmanJan 6, 2009 23:55146414
Koran translations need work... [139 words]suitepotatoDec 30, 2008 18:30146342
Koran translations [134 words]UgriJan 13, 2009 04:45146342
The Light of Islam [145 words]AhmedDec 30, 2008 04:51146247
Blair, if anything is a pragmatist not a closet Islamist [281 words]the Grand Infidel of KaffiristanDec 31, 2008 03:35146247
Truth [201 words]One-eyed eagleDec 31, 2008 08:33146247
Thank You Dr. Pipes- for this so Imperative List. [21 words]YnnatchkahDec 29, 2008 13:26146158
Add bush [30 words]Jinn 'n' tonicDec 29, 2008 10:02146139
Something Lost in Translation? [236 words]DeanDec 30, 2008 18:25146139
All languages are capable of being translated [121 words]JSobieskiJan 2, 2009 03:45146139
2I hope this explanation will help [777 words]GladeJan 8, 2009 18:54146139

Follow Daniel Pipes

Facebook   Twitter   RSS   Join Mailing List

All materials by Daniel Pipes on this site: © 1968-2024 Daniel Pipes. daniel.pipes@gmail.com and @DanielPipes

Support Daniel Pipes' work with a tax-deductible donation to the Middle East Forum.Daniel J. Pipes

(The MEF is a publicly supported, nonprofit organization under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Tax-ID 23-774-9796, approved Apr. 27, 1998.

For more information, view our IRS letter of determination.)