A thematic-semantic TQA of Aqua-Related terms in six Qur’an translations: House’s Model and Catford’s Shifts

Abstract

This study evaluates the translation quality of Qur’anic aqua-related terms across six English translations using a multidimensional framework combining Juliane House’s 2015 Translation Quality Assessment (TQA) model and J.C. Catford’s 1965 translation shift theory. The study assumes that a translator's purpose and professional background influence the types of translation errors that occur as well as the preservation of the source text's register. A corpus of 61 verses covering four thematic categories—Provision, Creation, Purification, Paradise—was qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed against Tafsir benchmarks from Ibn Kathir, Al-Qurtubi and Al-Tabari that were interchangeably used as a semantic benchmark. Each verse was assessed for Field, Tenor, Mode, overt and covert errors, and lexical/structural shifts. Results show that Al-Hilali & Khan (80.8%) and Ghali (76.4%) achieved the highest functional equivalence, while Arberry (48.5%) and Pickthall (52.3%) scored the lowest due to archaic diction and semantic distortion. Three dominant error patterns emerged: semantic narrowing of ماء /māʾ/ to “rain”, theological reduction of طهور /ṭahūr/ to “pure”, and loss of imagery (specifically, spatial “تجري من تحتها” and paradise springs images “عيون ،عينان ، عين”). The study proposes a Thematic-Semantic TQA model as a replicable tool for sacred text analysis. Pedagogical implications for Qur’an translation training are discussed.

Keywords: Qur’an translation; aqua terminology; House’s TQA; translation shifts; thematic-semantic

Received on: 26 July 2026

Accepted on: 17 September 2026

Published on: 06 October 2026