Intercultural Dialogue and Qur’anic Translation Paratexts: A Critical Discourse Analysis
Keywords:
Quranic translation, ICD, dialogue, Critical discourse analysisAbstract
Qur’anic translations play a pivotal role in shaping global perceptions of Islam and advancing intercultural and interfaith dialogue. This study sets out to investigate how translators’ paratexts, as expressed in prefaces, introductory sections, and methodology statements, contribute to fostering or impeding intercultural and interfaith dialogue within Qur’anic translations. By examining these elements across four selected translations, Robert Spencer (2022), Safi Kaskas (2015), Laleh Bakhtiar (2011), and Muhammad Abdel-Haleem (2005), the research evaluates how translators frame the text to enhance understanding and engagement across cultural and religious divides. The analysis is grounded in Norman Fairclough’s (2013) Three-Dimensional Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) model. Through this lens, the research seeks to highlight the translators’ roles as intercultural mediators by shedding light on how their methodological choices might bridge cultural divides and contribute to a dialogic encounter between Islam and other worldviews.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Ismail Dahia, Dr. Mohammed Belbacha
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