From Verses to Paragraphs: Macrostructure Shifts and Their Implications in English Translations of the Qur'an

Abstract

This paper examines the macrostructural shift from verse to paragraph structure in English translations of the Qur'an, focusing on the transition from a running-text format to paragraph divisions. It addresses the Qur'an's unique linguistic and structural complexities and evaluates the impact of this shift on the fidelity to the source text and preservation of meaning. The paper also explores how this approach affects cross-cultural understanding and religious interpretation, assessing whether a paragraph format can adequately retain the original functions and meanings of Qur'anic suras in English. By analysing the strategies modern Qur'an translators use, the study demonstrates that the shift from verse to paragraph is a non-obligatory macrostructural change, reflecting considerations of the translator’s objectives and the target audience's cultural and linguistic context. This shift is a deliberate choice, not dictated by language, but by the translator's goals of accessibility and skopos in the target text.