Translation and are two distinct but complementary processes, each with its own specific aims and methods. Here are the main differences between the two:
Translation
Aim: To convert the original text (in Hebrew, Greek or Aramaic) into another language, in this case French.
Process: Involves a deep understanding of the original languages and of the target language.
Requires cultural and historical knowledge to make sure that the original meaning is preserved.
Translators often have to choose between a literal (word-for-word) translation and a dynamic (sense-for-sense) translation in order to balance fidelity to the original text with clarity for modern readers.
Initial Work: Translators produce a new version of the text from the original manuscripts.
Revision
Aim: To improve an existing translation in order to correct errors, modernize the language, and make the text more understandable.
Process: Analysis of the different existing versions and translations.
Comparison with the original manuscripts to verify the accuracy and integrity of the text.
Modification of the text to improve readability, fluency and accuracy without altering the original meaning.
Adjustment Work: Revisers modify and correct a version that has already been translated.
Practical Examples
Translation: The first translation of the Bible by Louis Segond, in which he translated directly from the Hebrew and Greek texts.
Revision: The 1910 revision of the Segond Bible, in which scholars corrected and improved Louis Segond's original version.
In summary, translation is the initial creation of a text in a new language, while revision is the improvement and adjustment of that text to meet the changing needs of readers and advances in biblical studies.