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sentences which are arbitrarily grammatically and syntactically
interrelated. Each langauge has its own grammatical and syntactic
structure. These structures are governed by arbitrary norms and
conventions. The grammatical systematization, which is predominantly
based on logical considerations, bestows upon the interrelated
constituents of a sentence certain, specific, recognizable, and
identifiable semantic meaning. Therefore, meaning is a grammar-
dependent construct. Since translation and interpretation are
basically 'semantic' concepts (Halliday, 1985) no model for translation
quality assessment can be conceived nor implemented outside the domain
of grammar.
According to the concept of 'semantic shifts' upon which the
rhetorical model is based, the text can be postulated as a semantic
multi-layered linguistic entity in the sense that textemic structural
elements influence and determine textual meaning. The network of
meanings comprise (1) obligatory meaning; (2) extended meaning; and (3)
accessory meaning. It is through the activation of the grammatical
relationships holding between the micro-semantic structures of this
network, and the uni-directional movement of the extended and accessory
meaning towards the explication and subsequently, amplification of the
obligatory meaning, that the macro-semantic entity of the text is
identifiable. The difficulties which the translator, by virtue of his
original task, is expected to confront exist mainly in how to
disintegrate the semantic superstructure into infrastructural semes
and dissociate the interrelated meanings one from the other. Once
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