A Critical Evaluation of Equivalence in Translation Theories

Abstract

The concept of equivalence can be assumed to hold a central position intranslation studies. However, it has been controversial, causing many heateddebates among scholars of translation studies according to its nature,definition and applicability. This research paper provides a critical evaluationof the most influential equivalence theories that have been proposed byscholars in the field, such as Vinay and Darbelnet (1958), Jakobson (1959),Nida and Taber (1969), Catford (1965), House (1997), Koller (1979), Newmark(1981), Baker (1992), and finally, Pym (2010). These theories are presented inorder to provide a better understanding of how the concept of equivalencedeveloped. It is concluded that the concept of equivalence in the translationprocess varies among translation scholars according to their view on thequalities of equivalence.