THE TREND AND CHARACTER OF GERMAN BIBLE TRANSLATION

This is an examination of German Bible translation as it evolved through the centuries against the background of contemporary translation theory. The first stage of the study attempts to produce a conspectus of translation theories (not specifically theories of biblical translation) as these surfaced at different points in history.;A second level of study is concerned with the theory and practice of Bible translation through the years. From this it appears that Jerome's statements on translation theory if not his practice became normative in most subsequent attempts to translate the Scriptures. This remained true throughout the medieval period at last.;The third segment of the paper takes under consideration various German Bible translations. These studies are grouped together chronologically as follows: beginnings to Luther, the Luther period, from Luther to the present. The evidence gathered tends to show that, in the large, the rhythm of German biblical translation has paralleled that of secular translation. It has gradually shifted from literal to more free approaches to translation. It further becomes apparent that the development of more enlightened Bible translation techniques have, in the main, depended upon the prior development of the ancillary sciences, e.g., biblical exegesis and philology.;In modern times--although earlier attempts at this were not altogether unknown--a way off the dilemma between literal versus free Bible translation has been found in unabashed paraphrases of Scripture. Modern translators too, seem more disposed to strive for accuracy and sovereign clarity in their translation than for any other graces of style.;What appears from this study is a persistent indecision as to the relative merits of word-for-word translation over against sense-for-sense translation. At the same time, there appears to be a perceptible drift toward a less literal approach to translation. This is especially true in recent times.