Translation Methods

Extracted text from Methods_of_Translation.pptx:

The Language Box (English) high

KJV RSV old

NIV CEV TEV low

new

The Language Box (Spanish) high

RVR (09, 60) RVC old

NVI DHH TLA low

new

Domains men majority language(s)

women

situations

Public / Private Secular / Religious Traditional / Foreign Joking / Serious Formal / Informal Business / Social

Literal vs. Free Formal vs. Functional (E. A. Nida) Foreignizing vs. Domesticating (L. Venuti) Equivalence vs. Similarity

Grammar Poetry

Length

Reference Connotation

Grammar Poetry

Length

Reference Connotation

Grammar Poetry

Length

Reference Connotation

What is the translation brief (purpose, audience, etc.)? E.g. KJV, RSV, NIV, TEV Christiane Nord, Translating as a Purposeful Activity, St. Jerome Publishing, 1997

Bottom up: word by word. Translation checking word by word I can do all things How old are you? Brother-sister

Top down: genre Unless you know the genre, you will not know the context, and the context is everything (see below). Psalm 22.12, 16: bulls of Bashan surround me dogs are all around me.

Holistic: all levels are important: Word Phrase Paragraph Pericope Book Genre

Context is everything Understanding takes place in the overlapping contexts of understanding between the (presumed, reconstructed) original communicator and the current intended audience. And the translator makes the connection.