Equivalence is a key concept in the process of translating. In fact, wecannot think of translation without taking equivalence into consideration. Itshould be noted that the notion of equivalence relates to even the ordinarysenses of the verb to translate that is why we are often asked to translate ourfeelings into words and our words into actions, etc. So, the result of any actof translating revolves, in one way or another, around equivalence.
In general, we can speak of three types of equivalence: Formal, Functionaland Ideational equivalence.
Firstly, formal equivalence seeks to capture the form of the SLexpression. Form here relates to the image employed in the SL expression as canbe illustrated by the underlined English idiomatic expression and itsunderlined formal Arabic equivalent below:
The treaty has remained dead letter since then
وقد بقيت المعاهدة حرفا ميتا منذ ذلك الوقت
Secondly, we have functional equivalence which seeks to capture the functionof the SL expression independently of the image utilized by translating it intoa TL expression that performs the same function . This can be illustrated belowby the underlined Arabic functional equivalent of the English expression above.
وقد بقيت المعاهدة حبرا على ورق منذ ذلك الوقت
Finally, there is ideational equivalence which aims to convey thecommunicative sense of the SL expression independently of function and form.That is to say, the translator seeks to relay the meaning of the SL expressionregardless of functional and formal equivalence. The following two Arabic translationof the English example involving " deadletter" reflect this type ofequivalence:
ولم يتم تطبيق المعاهدة منذ ذلك الوقت
وقد بقيت المعاهدة غير مفعلة منذ ذلك الوقت
In general, we can speak of three types of equivalence: Formal, Functionaland Ideational equivalence.
Firstly, formal equivalence seeks to capture the form of the SLexpression. Form here relates to the image employed in the SL expression as canbe illustrated by the underlined English idiomatic expression and itsunderlined formal Arabic equivalent below:
The treaty has remained dead letter since then
وقد بقيت المعاهدة حرفا ميتا منذ ذلك الوقت
Secondly, we have functional equivalence which seeks to capture the functionof the SL expression independently of the image utilized by translating it intoa TL expression that performs the same function . This can be illustrated belowby the underlined Arabic functional equivalent of the English expression above.
وقد بقيت المعاهدة حبرا على ورق منذ ذلك الوقت
Finally, there is ideational equivalence which aims to convey thecommunicative sense of the SL expression independently of function and form.That is to say, the translator seeks to relay the meaning of the SL expressionregardless of functional and formal equivalence. The following two Arabic translationof the English example involving " deadletter" reflect this type ofequivalence:
ولم يتم تطبيق المعاهدة منذ ذلك الوقت
وقد بقيت المعاهدة غير مفعلة منذ ذلك الوقت
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ReplyDeleteVery good définitions
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