Discourse level functional equivalence translation

All translators know it is essential to master the vocabulary and grammar of both the source and receptor languages in order to produce a translation that communicates the Word of God effectively. However, many translators seem to be less aware of how important it is to analyze the language specific discourse level patterns of both languages and then restructure some of the units in order to communicate the central messages more effectively.; This study uses many recent insights from communication theory, information processing, and discourse level linguistics to develop a more systematic method for analyzing the discourse structure and central message of whole discourses. This method is used to analyze the central message of Galatians as a case study which illustrates discourse level exegesis. The same method can be used to analyze the discourse structure of any language into which the Bible is being translated.; This methodology shows that the discourse structure of the Ipili language in Papua New Guinea is very different from the discourse structure of Koine Greek. The connectives between units are radically different, and the sequence of the units in a discourse also tends to be quite different. This shows the need for a theory of translation that will produce an equivalent message in the receptor language, not only at the clause and sentence level, but also at the discourse level.; This research contributes to communication theory and exegesis by focusing on discourse level factors that affect both the process of communication and exegesis. It contributes to linguistic theory by critiquing some aspects of theories that have been presented by others, and extending some theories to make them more useful for discourse analysis. The research regarding hierarchies of centrality and language specific patterns is especially useful.; This study contributes to translation theory by shifting the focus to the discourse level, and by presenting theories which explain why a discourse level functional equivalence translation communicates central messages more effectively than a verse by verse translation. An analysis and translation of Galatians is presented to illustrate the process of producing discourse level functional equivalence translation.