The practice of rendering the Coptic scriptures with an emphasis on literal, one-to-one correspondence between the source text and the target language is a key characteristic of certain translation methodologies. This approach prioritizes maintaining the syntactic structure and lexical choices of the original biblical text, aiming to replicate it as faithfully as possible in Coptic. A specific example would be selecting the Coptic word that directly and consistently corresponds to a Hebrew or Greek term, even if a more natural or idiomatic Coptic expression exists.
The rigorous adherence to the source text offers several advantages. It aids in the reconstruction of the original text and offers valuable insight into the linguistic and theological understanding of the translators. Furthermore, it provides a valuable resource for comparative linguistics and biblical studies. Historically, this method reflects a deep respect for the perceived authority and inherent meaning contained within the source scriptures, leading translators to prioritize accuracy over stylistic fluency.
