Paraphrase
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Paraphrasing is the act in which a statement or remark is explained in other words or another way — as to clarify the meaning, or when a direct quotation is unavailable. Often, a paraphrase might substitute a euphemism for an actual statement, in order to avoid offense. As with a quotation, a paraphrase is introduced by a verbum dicendi, or disclaimer.
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Historical usage relating to the Bible
Paraphrases are also a type of literature arising, originally, out of biblical exegesis. In the early history of the Christian church, evangelists and missionaries needed the Gospel and the Pauline epistles written in a manner suitable for local populations and less educated priests. Therefore, various Church authorities had "paraphrases" issued. While, until the Reformation, the Bible remained in the Vulgate Latin (in the Western church), believers and pastors needed vernacular commentaries and explanations of scripture. The most famous of the paraphrases was probably The Paraphrases of Erasmus, a commentary on the Gospels written by D. Erasmus, which Edward VI of England ordered to be posted in all parish churches in England in 1547. The section of that paraphrase on the Gospel of John was translated into English by the Princess Mary.Modern usage relating to the Bible
The word paraphrase is used when talking about Bible translations, to denote a translation that is at the far right end of the word-for-word (literal) vs. thought-for-thought spectrum, or more formally the formal equivalence vs. dynamic equivalence spectrum. Examples of Bible translations which would be thought of as paraphrases are The Living Bible and The Message.Pedagogy
In pedagogy, the creation of a paraphrase has been a student exercise since the medieval period in rhetoric. Students were required to write paraphrases of classical set pieces.Characteristics of a well-done paraphrase
- It is not a summary.
- It does not contain words or phrases from the original (plagiarism).
- It includes all minor details from original.
- The meaning of the writing being paraphrased is clearer to the reader than in the original text.
- It restates the thesis.
- It is usually as long as, or longer than, the original.
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