The Emergence of Relevance Theory as a Theoretical Framework for Bible Translation -- By: Kevin Gary Smith

Journal: Conspectus
Volume: CONSPECTUS 04:1 (Mar 2007)
Article: The Emergence of Relevance Theory as a Theoretical Framework for Bible Translation
Author: Kevin Gary Smith


The Emergence of Relevance Theory as a Theoretical Framework for Bible Translation1

Kevin Gary Smith2

Abstract

Ernst-August Gutt sparked a massive debate amongst Bible translation theorists and practitioners when he proposed that the communication theory known as relevance theory offers the best framework for understanding the phenomenon of translation. His work challenged the prevailing views of Eugene Nida and caused a divide amongst translators, some supporting a relevance theoretical approach and others criticising it.

The purpose of this article is to present a brief history of Bible translation theory, culminating in emergence of relevance theory in the 1990s as a proposed theoretical framework for Bible translation. The article will describe how relevance theory emerged as a theoretical construct for translation, offer a brief synopsis of major areas of research into the application of relevance theory to translation, and conclude by identifying a few areas requiring further research and reflection.

1. Introduction

Ernst-August Gutt sparked a massive debate amongst Bible translation theorists and practitioners when he proposed that the communication theory known as relevance theory offers the best framework for understanding the phenomenon of translation. His work challenged the prevailing views of Eugene Nida and caused a divide amongst translators, some supporting a relevance theoretical approach and others criticising it.

The purpose of this article is to present a brief history of Bible translation theory, culminating in emergence of relevance theory in the 1990s as a proposed theoretical framework for Bible translation. The article will describe how relevance theory emerged as a theoretical construct for translation, offer a brief synopsis of major areas of research into the application of relevance theory to translation, and conclude by identifying a few areas requiring further research and reflection.

2. The age-old debate: literal versus idiomatic

The familiar dichotomy of literal versus idiomatic translations is as old as the practice of Bible translation itself. The first translation of the Old Testament from Hebrew into Greek, the Septuagint (LXX), varies from near wooden literalism in some places to virtual paraphrase in others (Nida 1996). Other early Greek translations of the Old Testament confirm that both literal and idiomatic approaches were familiar to ancient translators. Aquila’s translation (ca. a.d. 130) stuck to the Hebrew text with such literalness as to make it...

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