The terms dynamic equivalence and formal equivalence coined by Eugene Nida are associated with two dissimilar translation approaches that are employed to achieve different levels of literalness between the source text and the target text as evidenced in biblical translation.

Example of dynamic equivalence translation. Dynamic equivalence translations generally use shorter words and sentences. Some place it is a dynamic equivalence translation while others place it as leaning more towards formal equivalence. In this case a literal translation doesnt mean anything in a SL culture so the dynamic equivalence.

Equivalence is a relationship between two texts in two languages rather than between the languages themselves Catford 1965 1994. The English word love is a good example. But let me give you an example of the logical outcomes of dynamic equivalence.

Inclusion of exegetical procedures is necessitated by the first of three steps that dynamic-equivalence theory recommends. Equivalence translation requires equivalence of the original text and the translation in language function instead of language form. While a literal translation is sometimes difficult to read a dynamic equivalence translation is usually very understandable.

Difficult theological terms are expressed in easy to understand phrases rather than complicated words. Nida cites his examples from Bible translation where the phrase Lamb of God would be rendered into Seal of God for the Eskimos because the lamb doesnt symbolize innocence in their culture 1964. The two have been understood basically with dynamic equivalence as sense-for-sense translation with readability in mind and with.

Definition of equivalence in translation It is the relationship between a ST and a TT that allows the TT to be considered as a translation of the ST. As far as those who struggle with biblical translation are concerned dynami c equivalence has won the day-and rightly so 4J. So today Im looking at five examples of formal and dynamic translations to inspect some of these issues.

This approach is used when the readability of the translation. Nida favouring dynamic equivalence as a more effective translation procedure views that the product of the translation process which is the text in the TL must have the same impact on the different readers it was addressing. I preface this example with the simple observation that the gospel of John makes heavy use of the words truth and glory In How to Read a Book Mortimer Adler teaches that we must come to terms with the author were reading.