REVISITING BAKER’S EQUIVALENCE FRAMEWORK: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF RECENT APPLICATIONS IN TRANSLATION STUDIES (2022–2025)

Published: 2026-07-29

Abstract

Abstract

Mona Baker’s equivalence framework, presented in In Other Words: A Coursebook on Translation, is widely used in translation studies to analyze meaning across several levels, including word-level, above-word, grammatical, textual, and pragmatic equivalence. Despite its influence, recent applications of the framework have not been systematically reviewed. Accordingly, this paper aims to identify recent research trends, methodological approaches, and gaps in studies applying Baker’s equivalence model between 2022 and 2025. To achieve this objective, a systematic literature review was conducted using Google Scholar and the Directory of Open Access Journals. Following a multi-stage screening process, including duplicate removal and full-text evaluation, 20 peer-reviewed articles were selected and analyzed through qualitative synthesis. The findings reveal that most studies focus on above-word equivalence, particularly idiomatic expressions, followed by word-level equivalence. In contrast, few studies adopt a multi-level analytical approach. Moreover, the reviewed literature shows minimal attention to grammatical, textual, and pragmatic equivalence, indicating an imbalance in the contemporary application of Baker’s framework. Overall, Baker’s framework continues to demonstrate strong analytical relevance in contemporary translation research, although its higher-level dimensions remain underexplored.

Keywords: Baker’s model Academic burnout translation equivalence framework non-equivalence

How to Cite

Taha, B. (2026). REVISITING BAKER’S EQUIVALENCE FRAMEWORK: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF RECENT APPLICATIONS IN TRANSLATION STUDIES (2022–2025). European Journal of Humanistic Studies and Social Dynamics, 2(3), 20-32. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21693667

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