1. Eugene Nida

2. Nida and ”the science of translating”
Towards a Science of Translating (1964);
The Theory and Practice of Translation (with Taber) (1969)
incorporating insights from linguistics;
The theory of generative-transformational grammar (Chomsky 1957, 1965)

3. The nature of meaning: advances in semantics and pragmatics
Moving away from the idea that an orthographic word has a fixed meaning;
A functional definition: word acquires meaning through its context and can produce varying responses according to culture

4. The nature of meaning: advances in semantics and pragmatics
Meaning is broken down into:
linguistic meaning;
referential meaning;
emotive (referential) meaning;
Hierarchical meaning and componential analysis;
semantic structure analysis

5. Hierarchical structuring
Differentating series of words according to their level:
The superordinate animal and its hyponyms goat, dog, cow, etc.
vehicle, car, bus, etc.

6. Componential analysis
Identifying and discriminating specific features of a range of related words;
grandmother, mother, cousin, etc.
sex (male, female),generation, lineality (direct ancestor/descendant);
bachelor: +male, +unmarried

7. Semantic structure analysis
Separating out visually different meanings:
spirit (demons, angels, gods, ghosts, ethos, alcohol, etc.);
To demonstrate the semantic complexity of terms, how they vary and are conditioned by their context;
Varying emotive or connotative value depending on the target culture

8. The importance of context for communication
Metaphorical meaning;
Complex cultural idioms
Techniques of componential analysis as a means of clarifying ambiguities, elucidating obscure passages and identifying cultural differences

9. The influence of Chomsky
Phrase-structure rules generate an underlying or deep structure which is
Transformed by transformational rules relating one underlying structure to another (e.g. active to passive), to produce
a final surface structure, which itself is subject to phonological and morphemic rules

10. The structure relations – universal feature of human language
kernel sentences – most basic structures – simple, active declarative sentences – the minimum of transformation; ‘basic structural elements out of which language builds its elaborate surface structures’
Incorporating key features of Chomsky’s model into the ‘science’ of translation;
Technique for decoding the ST and a procedure for encoding the TT

11. Nida’s three-stage system of translation
analysis
Surface structure of ST is analyzed into the basic elements of deep structure
transfer
These are ‘transferred’ in the translation process
restruc.
And restructured semantically and stylistically into surface structure of the TT

12. Chomsky and TT From Nida & Taber (1969:33)

13. Kernels: four types of functional class
events (usually verbs);
objects (usually nouns);
abstracts (quantities and qualities, including adjectives);
relationals (inc. gender, prepositions and conjunctions)

14. Examples of analysis (Nida 1964)
Surface struture: will of God
Back transform: B(object, God) performs A (event, wills)
Surface structure: creation of the world
Back transform: B (object: the world) is the goal of A (event, creates)

15. From Nida (1964: 185-7)

16. Two Basic Orientations: formal and dynamic equivalence
Formal equivalence:
Formal equivalence focuses attention on the message itself, in both form and content… One is concerned that the message in the receptor language should match as closely as possible the different elements in the source language (Nida1964a: 159)

17. Bridging cultural and linguistic differences: Dynamic Equivalence
”The principle of equivalent effect: the relationship between receptor and message should be substantially the same as that which existed between the original receptors and the message”
‘Correspondence in meaning must have priority over correspondence in style’

18. ‘Four basic requirements of a translation’
Making sense;
Conveying the spirit and manner of the original;
Having a natural and easy form of expression;
Producing a similar response

19. Dynamic equivalence procedures include:
Substituting more appropriate TL cultural material for less accessible SL items;
Making references which are implicit in the ST linguistically explicit in TL;
Regulating redundancy in order to facilitate comprehension

20. Language, culture and society
Lamb of God rendered as Seal of God
Relate the receptor to modes of behaviour relevant within the context of his (sic) own culture

21. Adjustment techniques
Adding or taking away information;
Altering the material;
Providing footnotes;
Generally modifying the ST by removing any element likely to be perceived as alien, if not totally incomprehensible to the target audience

22. The importance of Nida’s work
Introducing a receptor-based orientation
Dynamic vs formal (dynamic v. structural) represents points on a cline;
More-or-less not either-or dichotomies;
The role and responsibility of the translator;

23. The importance of Nida’s work
Preoccupation with equivalence at word level;
Equivalent effect or response impossible to measure;
Is Nida’s theory really scientific?
Technique for effective preaching?