Formal and Dynamic Equivalence and the

principle of equivalent effect

Based on Eugene Nida’s Theory

IntroductionIn Toward a Science of Translating

Eugene Nida discards using terms such as “literal”, “free” and “faithful” in favor of “two basic orientations” or “types of equivalence”.

These two types are:

1. Formal equivalence 2. Dynamic equivalence

Formal equivalence

" Formal equivalence focuses attention on the message itself, in both form and content. In such a translation one is concerned with such correspondences as poetry to poetry, sentence to sentence, and concept to concept. Viewed from this formal orientation, one is concerned that the message in the receptor language should match as closely as possible the different elements in the source language. " Nida (1964: 159)

What does this mean?Formal equivalence arises if the translator gives preference to the SL text, reflecting both its content and form as truly as possible. This includes:

1/ grammatical units2/ the use of words 3/ the sense of terms.

To achieve the most faithful translation of grammatical units, the translator will translate:

1/ a noun into a noun and a verb into a verb2/ does not change sentence boundaries 3/ does not change paragraphs or the punctuation, etc.

Formal equivalence is oriented towards the ST structure:

“This means, for example, that the message in the receptor culture is constantly compared with the message in the source culture to determine the standards of accuracy and correctness” (Nida: 1964, p.159).

We can conclude that:Formal equivalence is thus the "quality of a

translation in which the features of the form of the source text have been mechanically reproduced in the receptor language: (Nida & Taber, 1969, p. 201).

a general tendency towards formal equivalence is characterized by, for example, a concern for accuracy (1964, p. 159) and a preference for retaining the original wording wherever possible.

Continued Nida calls this translation a ‘gloss

translation’, which aims to allow the reader to understand as much of the SL context as possible (ibid: 159).

In formal equivalence, the translator also attempts to reproduce as literally and meaningfully as possible the form and content of the original.

Formal equivalence is a valuable type of translation of certain texts for a given circle of receivers.

For example, it is used in academic environment to gain close access to the language and culture of the source culture.

Dynamic Equivalence Defenition:- “the closest natural equivalent to the source-language message”

This definition contains three essential terms: (1)equivalent, which points towards the source

language message(2)natural, which points towards the receptor

language(3)closest, which binds the two orientations together

on the basis of the highest degree of approximation

We can conclude that:Dynamic equivalence aims at complete

naturalness of expression. This requires adaptation of :-

1. Grammar2. Lexicon3. Cultural references

“Correspondence in meaning must have priority over correspondence in style” if equivalent effect is to be achieved

Dynamic equivalence is the quality which characterizes a translation in which "the message of the original text has been so transposed into the receptor language that the response of the receptor is essentially like that of the original receptors" (Nida & Taber, 1969, p.200).

This means:The relationship between TL receiver and TL

message should aim at being the same as that between the original receivers and the SL message. (ibid: 159)

Examples: The treatment has remained dead letter since then.

Formal equivalence:المعاهدة بقيت ميتا وقد الوقت حرفا ذلك منذ

Dynamic equivalence:المعاهدة بقيت ورق وقد على الوقت حبرا ذلك منذ

ExamplesAli’s decision to leave his job for a new one was ill-thought- out of the frying pan into the fire.

Formal equivalence:حكيما – بأخرى والشروع وظيفته بترك علي قرار يكن لم

من كالقافز كانالنار إلى المقالة

Dynamic equivalence:حكيما – بأخرى والشروع وظيفته بترك علي قرار يكن لم

بالنار الرمضاء من كالمستجير كان

Note:-Sometimes the formal and the dynamic

equivalence may coincide to form the optimal translatability.

Examples:Birds of feather flock together

تقع أشكالها على .الطيور

Out of sight, out of mind.الذهن عن بعيد العين، عن .بعيد

Discussion of the importance of Nida’s work:- 1. He pointed the road away from strict word-

for-word equivalence.2. He introduced a receptor- based orientation

to translation theory. 3. Nida’s detailed description of real

translation phenomena and situations is an important rejoinder to the vague writings on translation that had preceded it

4. He influenced later scholars. However some scholars criticized him.

Criticism:-1. Lefever (1993: 7): equivalence is still overly concerned with the word level2. Broeck and Larose: consider equivalence effect to be impossible:

How is the effect to be measured and on whom?How can a tex,t possibly have the same effect and

elicit the same response in two different cultures and times?

3. The criticism that Nida’s work is subjective raises the question of whether Nida’s theory of translation really is ‘scientific’.

The debate continued till the 1990s:-Qian Hu: the equivalence effect is

implausible when meaning is bound up in form. eg. Literary works

The closest natural meaning might be in contradictory relation with dynamic equivalence.

Nida is aware of what he terms “ the

artistic sensitivity which is an indispensible ingredient in any first-rate translation of a literary work”

The fiercest critic:- Edwin Gentzler: Contemporary Translation

Theory (1993) contains a chapter about ‘the science of translation’ .

Gentzler, working from within a deconstructionist perspective , criticizes Nida’s work for its theological and proselytizing standpoint since, in Gentzler’s view, dynamic equivalence serves the purpose of converting the receptors, no matter what their culture, to the dominant discourse and ideas of Protestant Christianity.