Dynamic equivalence and formal equivalence are two approaches to translation. Whereas dynamic equivalence (or idiomatic equivalence) attempts to capture the general thoughts of the original, formal equivalence approaches the text word-for-word. The terms are most often used used when referring 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 gives up 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 could 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 suited.

Dynamic equivalence is most useful when the original language is very different from the target language, making a more literal translation difficult to understand. Formal equivalence, on the other hand, allows readers to understand 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 well-known Bible translation made with dynamic equivalence as its goal. Formal equivalence is exemplified in the King James Version.

External link

• Formal Equivalence translation