Translation of Islamic Terminology in the Malay Archipelago: A Review

Abstract

This paper is an attempt to illustrate the importance of translation practices during the spread of Islam in the Malay Archipelago region. This study affirms that differences between cultures may cause serious complications in translation than those arising due to the differences in language structures. The sample of the study is concerned with some examples of Islamic terms commonly translated from Arabic language to Malay. The analysis of those terms starts with identifying its extensive lexical description definition and then followed by its terminological conceptual usage. The study prove that it is difficult to translate those concepts into TL simply due to the lack of optimal or even near optimal spiritual conceptual equivalents known to Malay culture. The skill and the intervention of the translator are most crucial in this respect because, at the end, translation is an act of language communication. It is hoped that this study will provide a step forward in observing translation needs and action in achieving more precise equivalent of this significant concepts that it may better reflect the innate peaceful nature of Islam through an absolute truth of its religious terminological representation.