Retracing the History of “Word for Word”, “Sense for Sense” Translation<br/>—Confronting and Inheriting of the Ancient Roman Translation Theories

Abstract

With the help of manipulative theory put forward by Andre Lefevere, this essay corrected misunderstandings on translation views of influential Roman translators such as Cicero, Jerome and Augustine, pointing out that a hasty announcement on translator’s opinion of “word-for-word” or “sense-for-sense” translation be not preferred. A close investigation on correspondent historical, cultural and political contexts has found new perspectives for the above Roman translators’ translation views. Exploration on confronting and inheriting of ancient Roman translation theories not only displays the history of “word for word”, “sense for sense” translation, but also serves as good examples to guide translation theory and practice.