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Analysis
on Core Theory of Functionalist
Translation
School
Abstract: In this paper,
translation’s function and purpose are explored
from the perspectives of
translation
definition and process. Based on analysis of
functionalist translation school’s core
theory, the author pointed out the importance
of functionalist translation theory. On this
basis,
the core theory of functionalist
translation school- skopos theory is introduced,
then the theory’s
main contents and principles
are discussed and analyzed in detail. The author
proposes the rationality
of using skopos
theory as the guideline in translation and how to
use it in translation field,
translation
strategies and principles of assessing translation
quality. And commercial advertisement
translation is used as an example of applying
skopos theory in translation.
Key
words: translation; functionalist translation
theory; skopos theory; objective; function;
application;
1 Introduction
Translation is a kind of cross-language
and cross-culture communication activity.
Translation is not
only a process of language
transformation, but also decoding and re-encoding
in transmission of
cultural information, with
intention of intercultural communication.
Translation is a re-creation
process, it is
affected by the translator’s understanding of
social background and the creation purpose
of
source text, the translator’s social background,
purpose of translation, readers and other
factors
[1]
.
The translator should not
only pay attention to language, but also cultural
phenomena. The purpose of
translation is
making readers better understand cultural
connotation, instead of conveying language
value of source text, From ancient to modern
times, many translation scholars have put forward
their
viewpoints and theories, among which,
functionalist translation theory is one of very
important
translation theories.
2
Summary of Functionalist Translation Theory
Functionalist translation theory was put
forward by German scholars in the nineteen
seventies,
“function equivalence” is the core
of the theory. German functionalist school mainly
include:
Katharina Reiss( Criticism on
Functionalist Translation), Hans Vermeer(
Translation Skopos Theory
and its Extension
Theories), Justa Holz Manttari( Translation
Behavior Theory), Christiane
Nord(Faithfulness
Principle)
[2,3]
. Functional translation
theory has broken dominant position of
traditional translation thoughts. After years
of improvement and development, functional
translation
becomes increasingly
suitable for social and economic development.
Skopos theory is the most important part of
functionalist translation theory. According to
skopos
theory, in translation process, the
first principle needing to be followed is
objective principle,
namely objective
determines method and process. Functionalist
translation theory originates from the
behavior theory, holding that translation is a
kind of behavior with certain purpose occurring in
certain
situation, it is transformation of one
language to another one. The success of
translation depends on
realization of expected
objective. According to the theory, equivalent
translation is only one of various
forms, thus
the most translation principle is the objective
principle. Based on Vermeer’s understanding,
objective principle means “each translated
text has certain purpose.”
Unlike
traditional translation theories, translation
skopos theory does not regard faithfulness as the
first principle. Based on functionalist
translation theory, translation text is only one
of information
sources, it is not in dominant
position. The translator is the most important
part which determines
translation strategy and
method, as well as how to finish translation work.
Because, even in a
first-class works, usually
one third of it not suitable for another culture.
With skopos theory, we can
evaluate
translation works with more objective attitude and
criteria.
[3]
3 Analysis of the
Core Theory of Functionalist Translation School-
Skopos Theory
Skopos theory is the core
theory of functionalist translation theory,
according to the theory, translation
is a
purposeful cross-cultural communication activity,
it is text production activity with interaction
between various factors, translation methods
and strategies used in translation process depend
on
translation purpose
[4]
. The theory
has broken the limitation of equivalence theory,
requiring
translation activity to be based on
translation purpose, and regard translated text’s
purpose as the first
principle. In this way,
the source text is no longer in dominant position,
and the translator is consider
as an expert,
the translator’s subjectivity and creativity are
recognized. Based on traditional translation
theories, the source text is in dominant
position, the translator should ensure equivalent
translation.
While the translator is regarded
as an expert in skopos theory. First of all, the
translator gets
translation assignment and
assess whether the translation purpose is
feasible, then accepts the task or
require
modication. After that, the translator chooses
translation strategies and methods based on the
translation purpose. In this sense, the source
text is only one of information sources the
translator uses.
The translator chooses
certain information because he or she believes
those information can meet
certain purpose in
target culture. At the same time, the principle of
faithfulness is emphasized in the
theory, and
multiplicity of translation criteria is also
advocated. Since in real life, the translation
work
is often varied, a singe set of standards
can’t apply to every translation work.
According to skopos theory, the translator
must develop strategies based on translation
purpose. Due
to language and cultural
differences, translated text can’t be consistent
with source text in every aspect.
What should be left and changed, as well as
how much of them should be left and changed depend
on
the translation purpose. Due to different
intended purpose or function, translation strategy
and method
vary. Skopos theory contains three
rules: objective rule, coherence rule and
faithfulness rule.
Objective rule means that
translated text can function as expected in target
language. Coherence rule
means that translated
text must meet the standard of coherence, has
readability and acceptability, and
certain
meaning in target culture. Faithfulness rule means
that there is intertextual coherence between
original text and translated text. Among the
three rules, fidelity rule needs to be based on
coherence
rule; at the same time, the two
rules ultimately depend on the objective rule
[5,6]
. Compared with other
theories,
skopos theory’s advantages are that it get rid of
constraint of equivalent translation theory,
and emphasizes subjective initiative of the
translator. Although the translator must do
translation
activity according to the
initiator’s willingness, but the activity is
different from passive obedience. It
is a kind
of behavior carried by the translator after fully
understanding various subjective and
objective
factors to achieve the initiator’s objective.
Therefore, the essence of functional translation
is
the objective principle.
From the
perspective of skopos theory, the initiator of
translation process determines translated text’s
purpose. The text is needed because of certain
purpose. In an ideal situation, purpose of
translation,
readers, language environment and
required functions are specified. These
translation requirements
enable the translator
know what kind of translated text is needed, but
the translator does not accept
everything
passively. He or she can participate in
formulation of translated text’s objective,
especially
when the initiator is short of
expertise or is not well aware of the translated
text’s purpose, the
translator can consult
with the initiator to know the purpose. In this
way, in translation process, the
translator
will consciously or unconsciously emphasize the
purpose and readers, and enable the text to
have certain function. Skopos theory emphasize
that translation is a kind of communication
between
two different cultures, instead of
only text conversion between two languages. The
original text is
based on specific situation,
and is subject to influence of source culture. The
target text (translated text)
can not be
completely the same as the original text in
content and structure. Thus, if the translator
only
converts one language into another one.
This is the purpose of translation process.
In general theories of translation, the source
text is regarded as a starting point, and the
translated text
is regarded as end point. The
translated text needs modification according to
rules of target language
and specific
communicative situations. In this kind of
translation process, original text is the starting
point and basis, equivalence is often the
goal. The biggest characteristic of functionalist
translation
theory is change of order. Whether
desired objective is achieved is the standard for
determine
translation strategy and method.
With purpose of intended function, we
must give priority to readers' cultural
background,
psychological factors,
economic development level and others. This is
opposite to general translation
order. Primary
translation standard is whether original text’
function or expected translation purpose is
realized. Different translation purpose means
different translation strategy and method. That is
to say,
translation purpose determines
translation strategy and method. Regarding literal
translation and free
translation in Chinese
and western translation history, as well as wide
discussion on formal
equivalence and dynamic
equivalence in recent twenty or thirty years,
skopos theory gives very good
explanation.
Choice of literal translation or free translation
should depend on translation purpose.
Skopos
theory emphasizes whether intended translation
purpose is realized, expands into behavior
theory and intercultural communication theory.
Objective principle and expected purpose
determines
the whole translation process,
which means any translation activity depends on
its expected purpose,
as Lice and Fumeier say
“Purpose determine way” .
[6]
4.
Application of Skopos Theory
Skopos
theory highlights role and impact of participants,
especially translation initiator in the whole
translation process, enhance translator’s
initiative. Skopos theory advocates macro
definition of
translation, it raises expected
purpose of translation to a higher level from a
new point of view. At the
same time, skopos
theory studies translation from the perspective of
cross cultural communication,
and expands the
scope of translation study. Study of translation
is no longer limited to interlingual
conversion process and text, it has expanded
into impact of target culture on translation
activity.
Therefore, skopos theory offers a
new viewpoint for translation study, it is
conductive to
comprehensive study of
translation of various texts and has a positive
guiding significance for
translation practice.
Skopos theory is widely used in many
fields, translation of commercial advertisement is
used as an
example here. Commercial
advertisement is a kind of business activity with
specific target.
Translation of commercial
advertisement means change of target readers. In
order to achieve
translated text’s intended
function, emotional delivery barrier caused by
difference of two cultures
needs to be fully
considered on the basis of analyzing the original
text, deletion translation, decrease
translation and modification translation are
feasible and necessary. That is to say, the
translator can
make appropriate adaptation or
modification based on the source text, source text
and the target text’s
content and form should
not be constraints. Translated text’s function and
effect should be equal to
that of original
text so that they meet consumers’ value. As for
the same advertisement, different
versions of
translated text may be made for various readers.
The theorist Nord proposes that the
initiator plays a decisive role in intercultural
communication, he
or she even decides on its
development direction . The translation process
depends on the initiator’s
needs and
translated text’s expected function or purpose,
instead of source text, its effect on readers.
Otherwise, even if product quality and
original advertisement are good, bad translation
can make it
complete success.
[5]
5 Conclusions
Skopos theory regards translation as a kind of
behavior with certain purpose, holding that
translation
purpose determines translation
strategy and method, various versions of
translated text may be created
because of
different translation objective, whether expected
purpose is realized is considered a
standard
for evaluating translation quality.