im lazy to type out so i copy from wiki
Dynamic Equivalence - Eugene Nida
Dynamic equivalence and formal equivalence are two approaches to
translation. Dynamic equivalence (or idiomatic equivalence)
attempts to discern and render the thought of the original. Formal
equivalence attempts to translate the text word-for-word. These
terms were created to refer to translations of the Bible.
These two approaches represent emphases on readability and literal
faithfulness to the original text, respectively. However, it should
be noted that dynamic equivalence stops short of paraphrasing.
There is no sharp boundary between formal equivalence, dynamic
equivalence, and paraphrase; they represent rather a continuum of
translation possibilites.
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 different languages usually contain
words and concepts which have no direct equivalents in other
tongues. In such cases dynamic translation is the only
option.
The more the source language differs from the target language, the
more dynamic the translation must be, because literal translation
becomes less and less understandable. But formal equivalence allows
readers familiar with the source language to see how meaning was
expressed in the original text, preserving original 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 usually prefer a formal equivalence
translation.
The New Living Translation is 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 New International Version and the New Revised
Standard Version are the most popular translations in contemporary
use, other than the King James version . Both of these versions
seek a balance between dynamic and formal equivalence.
