Dynamic and formal equivalence
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Dynamic equivalence and formal equivalence are two approaches to translation. Dynamic equivalence (or functional equivalence) emphasizes the meaning of the broader thought expressed in the source manuscript during translation. Formal equivalence attempts to translate the text word-for-word (literally). These terms were originally created to describe translation methods for the Bible, but these different approaches can be applied in any translation from one language to another.
The two approaches represent respectively, emphases on readability while stopping short of paraphrase, and literal faithfulness to the original text. However, there is no sharp boundary between formal equivalence, dynamic equivalence, and paraphrase. They represent a range of translation methods.
Because dynamic equivalence subordinates adherence to the original text in favor of a more natural translation, it is used when the readability of the translation is more important than preserving the original wording. For example, a novel would be translated with dynamic equivalence so that it reads well; but in international diplomacy the exact original meaning may be very important, so formal equivalence would be more desirable. Unfortunately, completely unambiguous formal translation is more often a goal rather than a reality because one language typically contains words for concepts which have no direct equivalents in another. In such cases a more dynamic translation may be used, or new words can be invented (say by transliteration from the original) to represent the concept.
The more the source language differs from the target language, the more difficult a literal translation can be to understand. But formal equivalence can sometimes allow readers familiar with the source language to see how meaning was expressed in the original text, preserving untranslated idioms, rhetorical patterns (such as Biblical Hebrew poetic parallelism), and diction. For these reasons, dynamic equivalence translations of the Bible are often used for everyday reading and devotionals, while serious Bible students may prefer a formal equivalence translation.
The dynamic equivalence principles were first described by the linguist Eugene Nida.
The New Living Translation is an example of a Bible translation made with dynamic equivalence. Formal equivalence of 17th century English to the Hebrew and Greek source manuscripts is exemplified by the King James Version. The English Standard Version is an example of a modern bible translation with a more literal (formal) equivalence. The New International Version and the New Revised Standard Version are contemporary translations that attempt to seek a balance between dynamic and formal equivalence.
As noted earlier, a selection between dynamic and formal equivalence can apply to any translation, not only the Bible. For an overview of issues specifically involving Bible translation, see The Bible version debate.
