Despite occasional theoretical diversity, the actual practice of translation has hardly changed since antiquity. Except for some extreme metaphrasers in the early Christian period and the Middle Ages, and adapters in various periods (especially pre-Classical Rome, and the 18th century), translators have generally shown prudent flexibility in seeking equivalents — "literal" where possible, paraphrastic where necessary — for the original meaning and other crucial "values" (e.g., style, verse form, concordance with musical accompaniment or, in films, with speech articulatory movements) as determined from context. COUNT 5
QSN1 How much has translation changed since antiquity? ANS1 hardly QSN2 What have general been prudent about? ANS2 seeking equivalents QSN3 For crucial values, what type of values do translators use where possible? ANS3 literal QSN4 What kind of diversity has the practice of translation had? ANS4 theoretical QSN5 When were there some extreme metaphrasers? ANS5 early Christian period and the Middle Ages