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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)


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 for relevance, substance, and tone, and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome, but comments are rejected if scurrilous, off-topic, vulgar, ad hominem, or otherwise viewed as inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the Guidelines for Comments. For informational purposes, we identify countries from which comments are sent.

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Reader comments (17) on this item

Title By Date
Koran shows what Islam is [89 words]anonJan 11, 2009 20:27
Hadiths are shocking [44 words]mriitunjayMay 15, 2009 04:44
Dhimmitude of the highest order. [123 words]M.D'SouzaJan 5, 2009 11:15
Hey, cowardice rules! [6 words]kmanJan 6, 2009 23:57
Tony Blair a Christian? [44 words]UgriDec 31, 2008 08:11
Update This List Often Dr. Pipes [57 words]AnneMDec 31, 2008 06:35
Odd how politicians will finally read Koran & not Bible from which it was distorted ... [42 words]kmanJan 6, 2009 23:55
Koran translations need work... [139 words]suitepotatoDec 30, 2008 18:30
⇒ Koran translations [134 words]UgriJan 13, 2009 04:45
The Light of Islam [145 words]AhmedDec 30, 2008 04:51
Blair, if anything is a pragmatist not a closet Islamist [281 words]the Grand Infidel of KaffiristanDec 31, 2008 03:35
Truth [201 words]One-eyed eagleDec 31, 2008 08:33
Thank You Dr. Pipes- for this so Imperative List. [21 words]YnnatchkahDec 29, 2008 13:26
Add bush [30 words]Jinn 'n' tonicDec 29, 2008 10:02
Something Lost in Translation? [236 words]DeanDec 30, 2008 18:25
All languages are capable of being translated [121 words]JSobieskiJan 2, 2009 03:45
I hope this explanation will help [777 words]GladeJan 8, 2009 18:54

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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 for relevance, substance, and tone, and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome, but comments are rejected if scurrilous, off-topic, vulgar, ad hominem, or otherwise viewed as inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the Guidelines for Comments. For informational purposes, we identify countries from which comments are sent.

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