CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of research

Translation is one important thing used by people for collecting information in

the form of textbook, journal, newspaper, etc. People may find the information in

deferent language. They do the translation work for getting more information in

deferent language; they change language to another language, Catford (1965,

p.20) states, “the translation may be defined as the replacement of textual material

in one language (SL) by equivalent textual in material in another language (TL)”.

Catford is one of the translation experts who proposed translation shifts in

translation process. Shift means the departures of formal correspondence in the

process of translating one language or source language (SL) to another language

or target language (TL). Newmark (1988, p.85) also says, “A shift is translation

procedure involving a change in grammar from SL to TL”.

These are two kinds of shifts; namely shift of level and shift of category. Shift

of level occurs when SL item at one linguistic level has a TL translation

equivalent at a different level while shift of category departures from formal

correspondence in translation. It comprises of four kinds; namely structural shift,

class shift, unit shift, and intra system shift.

The translation shifts may also occur in Al Qur’an English version. As shown

in the following example. Researcher uses Yusuf Ali translation in this research.

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Source Language Target Language

 unstinted abundance

 consequences

In some verses in Al Qur’an, it is shown that there as a shift in translating

process. Yusuf Ali used shift in translating two words in this verse. First, word

 when translated it into English it becomes “unstinted

abundance” as a noun phrase. This changing verb in SL into noun phrase in TL is

called unit shifts. According to Catford (1965, p.79) “unit shift means departure

from formal correspondence in which the translation equivalent of a unit at one

rank in the SL is a unit at different in TL”.

Second,  has a singular meaning in SL but when

Yusuf Ali changes the Arabic language to English language becomes

“consequences”, it has plural meaning. Yusuf Ali changes the singular meaning

into plural meaning, it is called intra system shifts. Intra system shifts takes place

when the SL and TL possess approximately corresponding system but where the

translation involves selection of a non-corresponding term in the TL system

(Munday, 2001, p.61).

Yusuf Ali Al Qur’an translation is used by people around the world and it

becomes among the most widely known English translations of the Qur'an. In his
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Al Qur’an translation occur shifts in translating process and it can be a tool in

learning teaching translation shifts.

Translation shifts is often applied by translator to convey the SL into TL.

Researching the shift would give clear description on the way expressing Qur’an

Arabic in English. This research gives more advantages in teaching learning

especially in translation shifts study.

The previous study about translation shifts was performed by Rifqi Pratama

Pandega who took the theory proposed by Newmark. He explained shifts

occurring in surah Albaqarah word by word. The research shows the proves of

Newmark’s theory on translation.

Based on the explanation above, in this research writer interested to know the

translation shifts based on Catford’s theory. While Rifqi took surah Albaqarah,

the writer took the source of the data in Almulk English version.

1.2 Focus of Research

As Catford (1965, p.20) says “the translation may be defined as the

replacement of textual material in one language (SL) by equivalent textual in

material in another language (TL)”. He proposed translation shifts in translation

process. The translation shifts may also occur in Al Qur’an English version. In

order to limit this research, the writer focuses in analyzing kind of translation

shifts are found in surah Almulk English version.

1.3 Statement of the Problem

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This paper, the writer formulated the research question as follows:

What kinds of translation shifts are found in Al Qur’an English version translated

by Yusuf Ali?

1.4 Purpose of the Study

Based on problem statement, purpose of this research is to analyze kinds of

translation shifts are found in Al Qur’an English version translated by Yusuf Ali.

1.5 Significant of the Study

This research is expected to advance knowledge in the field of translation

shifts, beside the grammatical structure and grammatical categories differences in

Arabic and English language version may be used as the discussing in learning

English. This study can be as a reference for further development in doing Al

Qur’an research as the source of teaching learning material especially for English

Islamic research.

1.6 Organization of Paper

This chapter will be divided into five chapters. Chapter one is the introduction.

It consists of background of the research, focus on the research, statement of the

problem, purposes of the research, significance of the research, organization of the

research.
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Chapter two is the theoretical framework. This chapter describes the

theoretical framework which describes about the nature of Al Quran, surah

Almulk, translation and translation shift.

Chapter three is research methodology. It consists of approach and method of

research, instruments, the procedure of data collecting, and the procedure of data

analysis.

Chapter four is the data analysis and research findings. This chapter explains

about description of research setting, research findings, and discussion.

Chapter five is the conclusions and suggestions. This chapter consists of

writer’s research conclusions based on findings. Besides, suggestion is given

based on conclusions.