Skopos Theory in Translation: Key Concepts
Define Skopos: Skopos is the word used for the aim or purpose of a translation. This is the prime principle that determines a translation.
Skopos Theory vs. Traditional Conceptions
How does the Skopostheorie definition of translation, within the scope of action theory, depart from traditional conceptions of translation? What do we mean by action theory? The Skopostheorie’s definition of translation departs from traditional concepts of translation because those concepts always mention the source text, but Skopostheorie is all about the Skopos (that is, the purpose of the text). Action theory is related to intentional, purposeful behavior.
Aim vs. Purpose According to Vermeer
What is the difference between aim and purpose according to Vermeer? Aim is defined as the final result an agent intends to achieve by means of an action. Purpose is defined as a provisional stage in the process of attaining an aim.
Intention vs. Function According to Nord
What is the basic distinction between intention and function proposed by Nord? Function refers to what a text means, or is intended to mean, from the receiver’s point of view, whereas the aim is the purpose for which it is needed or supposed to be needed. Intention is conceived as an aim-oriented plan of action on the part of both the sender and the receiver, pointing toward an appropriate way of producing or understanding the verb.
Three Rules for Translation in Skopos Theory
What are the three rules for translation proposed by Skopostheorie, and what is the hierarchy among them?
- Skopos rule: The translation has to be made in a way that it can be used in the situation and in the way that the receivers want it to be used.
- Coherence rule: The translation needs to be coherent with the receivers’ situation to be acceptable. Intratextual coherence: the translation has to make sense.
- Fidelity rule: The target text has to have some relationship with the source text. Intertextual coherence: resemblance between the source text (ST) and the target text (TT).
Hierarchy: Fidelity rule < Coherence rule < Skopos rule
Intratextual vs. Intertextual Coherence
What is the difference between intratextual and intertextual coherence? Intratextual coherence means the translation has to make sense. Intertextual coherence refers to the resemblance between the ST and the TT.
Translation Brief and the Servant-Translator Concept
What is a translation brief? Does it entail alignment with the concept of servant-translator as put forward by Susan Bassnett in the introduction to her book Translation Studies? Why?
Translation brief: The primary information that the client gives to the translator, which the translator can then use, applying those instructions as they see fit. It is a set of instructions provided by the client for the translation.
It does not entail alignment with the concept of servant-translator that Susan Bassnett describes because, in Skopostheorie, the translator can make the translation using the translation brief as they think it’s better and can negotiate with the client. Bassnett, however, states that the translator is a servant who does exactly what the client asks and cannot use their own ideas.
Adequacy and Equivalence in Skopos Theory
Compare the concepts of adequacy and equivalence as defined by Skopostheorie. How are the translation procedures proposed by Vinay and Darbelnet (e.g., borrowing, calque, modulation, adaptation, etc.) related to them?
As defined by Skopostheorie, “adequacy” means that the translation should fit the requirements of the brief. These would be the qualities of the target text regarding the brief. It is a dynamic concept related to the process of translational action.
Equivalence is a static-oriented concept describing a relationship of equal communicative value between two texts or, on lower ranges, between words, phrases, sentences, syntactic structures, and so on.
For Reiss, the generic concept is adequacy, not equivalence. In Skopostheorie, equivalence means adequacy to a Skopos that requires that the target text serve the same communicative function or functions as the source text.
This relates to all the translation techniques because, in order to follow the Skopos of the translation, we will vary the translation techniques used.