The limitations of "Equivalent Effect" (The translation studies of Eugene A. Nida)

Equivalent effect has been widely discussed in Translation Studies. It mean s that the effect produced by a translation on its audience should be as cl ose as possible to the effect the original had on the recipients in the sou rce language. The influential western theorist Eugene A. Nida proposes that 'dynamic equivalence' provides a basis for the principle. This article discusses the principle of equivalent effect, including propos itions before Nida, and comments by Western and Chinese translation theoris ts. It presents limitations of equivalent effect and the author's viewpoint on the theory.