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translation was eventually cleared. However, the formulation of an
all-subsuming theory for translation and, subsequently, the
establishing of a precisely flawless and invulnerable model for
transition quality assessment, remain yet to be investigated.
Modern research in the field of translation exhibits a mutual
relationship between translation theory and recent developmentS in
linguistics, pragmatics, artificial intelligence studies and other
related disciplines. On the whole, pragmatic theories capitalize on
semantic theories. In other words, semantics is a pragmatic-goaled
discipline. However, linguists and translation theorists,
particularly in recent years, concerned themselves with one main issue
in the whole process of translation, namely, the issue of equivalence.
It is not irrelevant, however, to concentrate on equivalence since it
has become, of late, a focal issue in all translation studies.
EQUIVALENCE IN TRANSLATION
Equivalence is a key concept in translation. The entire corpus
which has been written on the theory and practice of translation
focuses on it as a sole reliable criterion for adequate translation.
Assuming that language is a device for communicating messages, Nida and
Taber (1969) contend that "The content is the conceptual intent of the
message, together with the connotative values the source wishes to
communicate; it is what the message is about. The form, on the other
hand, is the external shape the message takes to effect its passage
from the source's mind to the receptor's mind." The argument further
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