Translation studies and Bible translation

Abstract

English: An overview of recent developments of the discipline that studies the activity of translation, as well as the implications for Bible translation, is presented. Starting off with a discussion on the name and content of the discipline, an overview of some translation approaches focusing on the source text, the process of translation, the reception of the translated text and the cultural-social bound character of translation, is offered. Since the early eighties there has been a tendency within translation studies to move away from the normative and prescriptive approaches to translation and to adopt a descriptive approach towards the study of translated literature. Descriptive translation theorists attempt to account not only for textual strategies in the translated text, but also for the way in which the translation functions in the target cultural system. The implications that these recent theoretical developments bare for Bible translation practice, criticism of Bible translations, the training of theologians and Bible translators are finally indicated.

Afrikaans: 'n Oorsig word aangebied van resente onrwikkelinge binne die dissipline wat die aktiwiteit van vertaling bestudeer, asook die implikasies vir Bybelvertaling. Nadat die naam en inhoud van die dissipline bespreek is, word 'n oorsig aangebied van benaderings wat op die bronteks, die proses van vertaling, die ontvangs van die vertaalde teks en die kultureel-sosiale gebonde karakter van vertaling fokus. Sedert die vroeë tagtigerjare is daar in vertaalkunde wegbeweeg van die normatiewe en preskripriewe benaderings tot vertaalkririek deur die implementering van 'n deskriptiewe benadering tot die studie van vertaalde literatuur. Deskriptiewe vertaalteoretici poog nie net om die vertaalstrategieë in die vertaalde teks te verklaar nie, maar ook hoe die vertaling in die kultuursisteem van die doeltaal funksioneer. Die implikasies wat resente teoretiese ontwikkelinge het vir die praktyk van Bybelvertaling, die kritiek op Bybelvertalings, die opleiding van teoloë en Bybelvertalers, word ten slotte aangetoon.