Converting the Words of God: An experimental evaluation of stylistic choices in the new Dutch Bible translation

In an experiment stylistic choices in the new Dutch Bible translation were evaluated. 185 participants evaluated 4 fragments which differed type of variation (lexical or syntactic), source fragment (Bible - classical text) and way variations applied (single mixed). Also religious¬ness evaluator was taken into account. Examined is whether lexical modernization syntactic simplification are same, single show a better insight evaluations if evaluation influenced by text religiousness evaluator. The results showed that there difference between variation, gives do not influence evaluations. This study demonstrates translators must involve readers at early stage their discussions on required appropriate register.