Toward a Science of Translating - Principles and Procedures in Bible Translation - Eugene A. Nida

Sep 21, 2026

This book advances a theory of translation grounded in contemporary developments in linguistics, anthropology, and psychology, with special reference to Bible translation. It argues that translation work requires more than rule-of-thumb guidance, and proposes principles and procedures to better support translators. While the scope of translation theory is broad, the illustrative material draws primarily from biblical sources, emphasizing meaning, communication, and the translator’s role.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages170

Reading Time7 h 8 min

AccessFree to download

Preface

Introduction

The Tradition of Translation in the Western World

An Introduction to the Nature of Meaning

Linguistic Meaning

Referential and Emotive Meanings

The Dynamic Dimension in Communication

The Role of the Translator

Principles of Correspondence

Types of Correspondences and Contrasts

Techniques of Adjustment

Translation Procedures

Machine Translation

Bibliography

Index

TOWARD A SCIENCE OFTRANSLATING WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO PRINCIPLESAND PROCEDURESINVOLVED IN BIBLE TRANSLATING BY EUGENE A.NIDA LEIDEN E.J.BRILL1964 Copyright rg64 by E.J.Bril,Leidon,Nelherands A righs reserved.No part of this book may be reproduced or r地s-lated itany form,by prinu,piotoprint,microfilm or any other mawithow toritlen permission from the publisher To my colleagues in the Translations Deparmenof the American Bible Sociey TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface………………………………………………………………………………x I.Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………………………I 2. The Tradition of Translation in the Western World………………II 3. An Introduction to the Nature of Meaning……………………………30 4. Linguistic Meaning…………………………………………………………………………57 5. Referential and Ernotive Meanings ……………………………………………70 6.The Dynamic Dimension in Communication …………………………120 7. The Role of the Translator………………………………………………………………I45 8. Principles of Correspordence………………………………………………I56 9. Types of Corespondences and Contrasts………………………………I93 Io. Techniques of Adjustment …………………………………………………226 II. Translation Procedures……………………………………+·.·+·,24I I2.Machine Translation…………………………………………………………………………………………252 Bibliography…………………………………………………………………265 Index…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………32I PREFACE This volume,Toward a Science of Translating:has been largelyprotnpted by the nature of field work in which I have been involvedduring recent years in Latin America,Africa,and Asia.An earlier book,Bible Transla1g(Nida,r947a),though very useful to the Bible trans-lator,is essentially only a practical Fandbook,with a kind of rule-of-thumb orientation.Increasingly it became obvious that in order to assisttraLnslators more satisfactorily it was necessary to provide somethingwhich would not only be solidly based on contemporary developmentsin the fields of linguistics,anthropology,and psychology,but would alsorelate the specific area of Bible translating to the wider activity of trans-lating in general.The present volume is an attempt to fill this need. As the title of this book implies,it makes no pretension to be adefinitive volume,for in the present state of development in the field ofsemantics it is impossible to contemplate writing such a final work.However,there have been a number of important and fruitful develop-merts in linguistics,both in the structural as well as the semantic areas,and these have contributed very significantly to the organization ofthis book. Though the scope of translation theory in this volume is all-inclusive,the illustrative data are drawn primarily from Biblical materials,andcspecially so in the later chapters.This s not as great a disadvantageis it might Bppear at first glance,for no other type of translating hassuch a long history,involves so many different languages (at present morethan I,200),includes more diverse types of texts,and covers so manydistinct cultural areas of the world.But though the examples are drawprimarily from Biblical data,this volurne is not prepared with theaverage Bible translator in mind,for it is rather too technical in orien-tation.Nevertheless,it should serve as an important help to such trans-lators as may have sormne background in present-day linguistic theory andit will be the basis of other more simply written books now in preparation,which will be aimed at teaching translation methods. Very important help on this volume has been received from a numberof colleagues and friends.I am especially indebted to the following:Robcrt G,Bratcher,Wesley Culshaw,H.A.Gleason,Joseph E.Grimes,R.W.Jumpelt,Jan Knappert,Terry Langendoen,Robert P.Markham,Fred C.C.Peng,Punya Sloka Ray,Willam Reyburn,Willam Samarin,William A.Smalley,G.Henry Waterman,and William L.Wonderly.Dorothy L.Tyler is to be thanked for her invaluable assistance in editing;Anna-Lisa Madeira,Letha Markham,and Dorothy Ridgway fortheir careful typing of the manuscript;Eleanor F.Newton and CullerStory for their work on

FAQs

Why does the author claim a rule-of-thumb Bible handbook is not enough?

The author argues that translators need guidance solidly based on contemporary linguistics, anthropology, and psychology, and connected to wider translation activity rather than purely practical tips.

What is the scope of the translation theory in this volume?

The scope is all-inclusive in translation theory, though the examples are drawn primarily from biblical materials, especially in later chapters.

How does the author frame the modern context for translation?

The author contrasts ancient multilingual communication with modern needs, noting that interlingual communication problems persist while technology increases the urgency to ensure effective understanding between peoples.

Sep 21, 2026

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