Introducing Translation Studies（chapter3）

Amber

Equivalence and Equivalent Effect is a core topic in translation studies (Chapter 3). It traces the development of equivalence theory from a linguistic perspective, analyzing key scholars’ contributions and debates.

Roman Jakobson first laid the foundation by exploring linguistic meaning and equivalence, noting that cross-linguistic translation involves substituting signs across different language systems, and grammatical/semantic differences between languages make equivalence complex. Eugene Nida then advanced the theory with formal and dynamic equivalence: formal equivalence prioritizes matching the source text’s structure, while dynamic equivalence centers on the target readers’ response, aiming for them to experience the same meaning as the source audience.

Peter Newmark distinguished semantic and communicative translation: semantic translation stays faithful to the source text’s meaning, while communicative translation prioritizes the target readers’ understanding. Werner Koller further refined equivalence into five types (denotative, connotative, text-normative, pragmatic, formal), each focusing on different aspects of translation analysis.

The  chapter also discuss criticisms and later developments of equivalence theory. Scholars argue that equivalence is subjective and hard to measure across cultures, and non-linguistic translation studies challenge its overemphasis on linguistic matching. Case studies (e.g., Bible translations) and tables are used to illustrate how these theories apply in practice, showing the tension between theoretical ideals and real-world translation needs. Overall, the chapter reveals how equivalence theory has evolved from a purely linguistic concept to a framework that considers culture, readers, and communication effects.