Second thoughts on equivalence

The claim that the notion of equivalence is necessary as a defining characteristic of translation – previously accepted by the author – must be qualified. The aim of this comment is to show that equivalence should not be treated as an abstract correspondence between a source and a target text, and is better understood as ‘fidelity’. Accordingly, the task of the translator should be described as seeking the ‘middle ground’ – a position acceptable to both parties involved.