An Analytical Study of Semantic Reduction in the English Translation of Ihya' Ulum Ad Din: Extensive use of Vinay and Darbelnet’s Modulation Procedure

Abstract

The translation of religious texts is more than a mere linguistic transfer; it involves the preservation of religious beliefs and ideas that shapes individual belief system as well as social structures and norms. Therefore, the accurate translation of such text is extremely essential. This study presents an analytical study of generalization of religious terms in the English Translation of Ihya' Ulum Ad-Din by Mohammad Mahdi al-Sharif. The study focuses on the ‘Book: Knowledge’ and analyzes it in the light of Vinay and Darbelnet’s Translation Strategies. It specifically investigates the use of procedure of Modulation for translating religious terminologies. This study discuss that the excessive use of Modulation may led to semantic reduction and loss of conceptual depth in the Target Language. Using a descriptive analytical approach, selected religious terms from source text are compared with their English translation to examine how excessive use of Modulation affects meaning. The study concludes that the procedure of Modulation may enhance readability but, in some cases, it also results in simplification of religious terminologies into more general expressions and also compromise the original concept of the source text. The finding highlights the need for a balanced approach that preserve and convey the actual meaning of religious terms while maintaining readability.