Examining Multi-Word Expressions Usage in Qur’anic English Translation: Insights from a Corpus-Based Structural and Functional Analysis

Abstract

Linguistically speaking, Lexical bundles have a great influence over discourse of specialized registers, especially scripture. There are few empirical studies of bundle peculiar to Islamic holy books, including the Quran. This paper would perform an empirical analysis of corpus research that seeks to establish pervasive lexical bundles in a translation of the Quran in the English language, explain the structural patterns and functional roles that these lexical bundles play in articulating the Islamic theology.  A custom-made corpus with 166,807 words in 114 suras was created and bundles were purged using computational applications and later filtered with the help of pre-established frequency and dispersion policies. The extracted bundles were then subjected to qualitative classification with reference to structural configurations and functional categories with respect to trained analysts. The results show that nominal and prepositional phrase bundles are predominant and in a systematic manner encode and renew basic concepts of the doctrines and metaphysics. The research-oriented bundles of context at the expense of managing theological content, when compared to the stance-oriented bundles of experiences, have a numerical preeminence that indicates that the Quran enforces an epistemic tradition that enshrines itself as an indefeasible repository of divinely communicated spiritual truths. These convey important pedagogical implications. Didactic strategies relating to the use of common bundles as linguistic elements of constructions can contribute to a plurilingual mastery of real Quranic syntax among different students and to spiritual respect. In addition, bundle-based pedagogy develops integrated literacies which include interpretation, rhetoric production and critical interaction with the linguistic and cultural properties of sacred discourse.