Textbooks on Translating

[John of Japan]

Real translations should be done off of the original languages though whenever possible, correct?

Absolutely.

 

[John of Japan]

I have just one more translating textbook to mention. Biblical Bible Translating, by Charles V. Turner, is an excellent source. I have the 2nd edition at home, and it was pretty good. The third edition is "revised and expanded," and I have that but have not read it through yet. Turner is an independent Baptist missionary translator. He has a great MA in linguistics through an SIL program. I think he is retired by now, but he taught for many years at the Baptist Bible Translators Institute down in Texas. So, he is the genuine article--though I must say he made a mistake in getting his PhD at Great Plains Divinity School, which has minimal requirements for the degree. ('Nuff said.)

Back in the day, Turner did a missionary translation under New Tribes Mission of the New Testament, Genesis and Exodus into the language of the Sinasina people group of Papua New Guinea. His book reflects that experience, and is very useful. I haven't found it in this 3rd edition yet, but in the 2nd ed. he had a great chart which allowed you to keep track of the percentage of the NT you have translated.

It should be said that this textbook takes a TR position. Personally I'm quite comfortable with that. At any rate, I recommend the book all in all.