Skopostheorie Explained Christiane Nord, UFS …ltlts2.um.ac.ir/uploading/ltlts2.um.ac.ir/images/NORD_06... · Skopostheorie Explained . Christiane Nord, UFS Bloemfontein, South Africa

Skopostheorie Explained

Christiane Nord, UFS Bloemfontein, South Africa Isfahan University, 18/10/2014

Introduction Translators of all centuries have reflected on the dilemma between "faithful"

and "free" translation and on possible criteria for a choice between the two strategies. Cicero: "ut interpres" vs. "ut orator" (criterion fidelity / rhetorical effect) St. Jerome: "verbum e verbo" vs. "sensum de sensu" (criterion: text type

Holy Scriptures / profane texts) Luther: translating vs. “germanizing” (criterion: "what is relevant"

theological concepts / narrative) Schleiermacher: translation (proper) vs. (mere) interpreting (criterion:

text type literary texts / pragmatic texts) Nida: formal equivalence vs. functional/dynamic equivalence (criterion:

purpose philological / missionary) Lawrence Venuti: foreignizing vs. domesticating (criterion: how to deal

with otherness) According to their time (= implicit norms) and purposes, each of these authors

preferred one strategy or the other, the pendulum swinging regularly from the source-text pole to the target-text pole and back.

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Action-oriented approaches Action-oriented approaches claim that both strategies

may be legitimate, depending on the purpose of the communicative (inter)action. Hans J. Vermeer: Skopos Theory (1978, 1984) Justa Holz-Mänttäri : Theory of Translational Action

(1984) Hans Hönig (), Paul Kussmaul (and others, 1982 ff.):

Application of skopos theory to translator training and translation teaching, -> "functionalism"

Christiane Nord: Function and Loyalty (1988ff.)


Skopos Theory Translation is an interpersonal, intercultural mediating action

where a text is involved. (There could be other translational actions without a source text, e.g. cross-cultural consulting or technical writing.)

For an act of behaviour to be called an action the person performing it must (potentially) be able to explain why s/he acts as s/he does although s/he could have acted otherwise (Vermeer 1989: Skopos and commission in translational action, in Chesterman, A. (ed.): Readings in Translation)

For translation to be called an action, the translator must (potentially) be able to explain why s/he translated the way s/he did although s/he could have translated otherwise.

4 18/10/2014 C. Nord: Skopos Theory and Functionalism

Translation Brief According to Skopos Theory, the roles of initiator (or commissioner, client),

translator, source-text producer and target-text addressee are crucial for the choice of translation methods and strategies.

What the skopos states is that one must translate, consciously and consistently, in accordance with some principle respecting the target text. The theory does not state what the principle is: this must be decided separately in each specific case. (Vermeer 1989)

The basis of this decision is the actual translation situation, which can be identified by the following questions: Who translates for whom when, where, through which medium (orally, in written form) and for which purpose?

The situation for which a translation is needed is described or defined (explicitly or implicitly) by the translation brief.

The translation brief does NOT tell the translator how to go about their translating job. These decisions depend entirely on the translator’s competence and responsibility.


Skopos = what the translator is aiming at in the translation process (dynamic concept)

Function = what the text means to a particular reader in a particular moment of reception

Intention = what the author or sender wants to achieve A text is an offer of information. A translation is a

target-language-and-culture offer of information about a source-language-and-culture offer of information.

Summary of basic concepts

6 C. Nord: Skopos Theory and Functionalism 18/10/2014

A culture is the entire setting of norms and conventions an individual as a member of his society must know in order to be 'like everybody' – or to be able to be different from everybody.

(VERMEER, Hans J. (1987) What does it mean to translate?, Indian Journal of Applied Linguistics 13(2): 25-33).

A culture-specific behaviour is one that is found to exist in a particular form or function in only one of the two cultures being compared. This does not mean that it exists only in that particular culture. It does not mean either that all members of the culture use this form of behaviour at any moment where it may be appropriate. Culture-specific behavioremes are "prototypical" behaviour patterns.

(cf. Nord 1993, 20ff., transl. C.N.)

Culture and Culture-specificity


Cutureme: Having breakfast

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Rich points between cultures (M. Agar)


CULTURE BARRIER

Function plus loyalty (Nord) In skopos theory, a source text may allow ANY translation

purpose, depending on the brief. ⇒The end justifies the means (Reiss/Vermeer 1984)

In the application of skopos theory to translator training and practice, the acceptability of translation purposes is limited by the translator's responsibility with regard to her/his partners in the cooperative activity of translation (principle of loyalty). (Nord 1989)

Loyalty is an interpersonal category, whereas “faithfulness” or “fidelity” refer to a relationship between two texts.


Example 1: Interlinear version Brief: Translate „Memmá wo abenkúm“ (from Sesotho,

a South African language) into English in such a way that the source-language structures become visible.

Adequate form: interlinear version Me- m- má wo abenkúm 1SG NEG give 2SG left hand

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Example 2: Literal translation Brief: Translate „Memmá wo abenkúm“ (from Sesotho,

a South African language) into English in such a way that I understand what it says.

Adequate form: interlinear version Memmá wo abenkúm. I don’t give you my left hand

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Example 3: Philological translation Brief: In his statement in court, the accused X claimed to

have made the following utterance talking to a colleague at work, which gave rise to a violent row. The court interpreter is asked to first give a literal translation and then explain to the judge what it means in the accused‘s culture.

Adequate Form: Philological translation with paratext Memmá wo abenkúm I do not give you my left hand.* *Interpreter’s comment: After an accident, X’s left hand

was put in plaster. He apologizes for using his right hand, which is regarded as very impolite in his culture.

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Example 4: Exoticizing translation Translation brief: The translation should reproduce those aspects of the source text which will seem “exotic“ to the target audience

Spezialitäten „Liebe geht durch den Magen.“ Dieser Spruch findet in München seine besondere Bestätigung. Denn es gilt als ein Teil der vielzitierten Münchner Gemütlichkeit, dass man hier auch zu essen und zu trinken versteht.

Specialities Love passes through the stomach, it is said. This proverb is confirmed particularly in Munich. To enjoy good eating and drinking is regarded as an intrinsic part of what constitutes Munich’s often quoted “Gemütlichkeit”, its specific atmosphere.


Example 5: Equifunctional translation Translation brief: The English translation should achieve the same function that the source text is intended to achieve for the source culture audience. Adequate form: equifunctional translation

„Liebe geht durch den Magen.“ Dieser Spruch findet in München seine besondere Bestätigung. Denn es gilt als ein Teil der vielzitierten Münchner Gemütlichkeit, dass man hier auch zu essen und zu trinken versteht.

“The way to people‘s hearts is through their stomachs,” it is said, and this proverb is perhaps particularly true in Munich, a city where some attention is devoted to good eating and drinking.


Example 6: Heterofunctional translation Brief: Translate the tourist information text into French Form chosen by the translator: heterofunctional translation

“Liebe geht durch den Magen.” Dieser Spruch findet in München seine besondere Bestätigung…

“L‘amour passe par l‘estomac,” affirme un proverbe allemand, qui se trouve à Munich amplement confirmé…

[literally: "Love passes through the stomach," says a German proverb, which is well confirmed in Munich…]


Homologous translation Brief: Translate this poem for a monolingual anthology of modern Farsi poetry

سرود زيبايی شانه های تو همچو صخره های سخت و پر غرور موج گيسوان من در اين نشيب سينه می کشد چو آبشار نور شانه های تو چون حصار های قلعه ای عظيم رقص رشته های گيسوان من بر آن همچو رقص شاخه های بيد در کف نسيم

Anthem of Beauty Your wide shoulders,

like long-standing, proud rocks, and the coiling tides of my locks– sliding down their incline– like a waterfall of shine! Your wide shoulders, like the curtain walls of a massif fortress– invite with open arms the dance of my fugitive tress, like the ballet of the willow leaves with the wind's caress!

Forough Farrokhzad (1935 – 1967)


Functional translation typology (Nord) INTERCULTURAL TEXT TRANSFER


transla-tion type

DOCUMENTARY TRANSLATION

INSTRUMENTAL TRANSLATION

Transla-tion form

inter-lineal

lite-ral

philo-logical

exoti-cizing

equi-func-tional

hetero-func-tional

homolo-gous

Function of trans-latum

metatextual

phatic / referential / expressive / appellative

Function of transla-tion process

The TT is intended to be a target-language documentation of a communicative interaction realized in the source culture

The TT is intended to be an instrument for communication in the target culture produced by processing the information offer of the source text

Conclusions Functionalism does not deal with language structures but

with the conditions of communicative action. Functionalism is consistent and not limited to certain text

types or culture pairs. Functionalism is a general approach including different

translation types and translation forms. Functionalism corresponds to the requirements of

professional translation practice, where responsible translators are needed, thus laying the foundations for a higher social prestige of mediating professions.


Thank you for your attention!

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Skopostheorie Explained Christiane Nord, UFS …ltlts2.um.ac.ir/uploading/ltlts2.um.ac.ir/images/NORD_06... · Skopostheorie Explained . Christiane Nord, UFS Bloemfontein, South Africa