Skopos theory
Encyclopedia
The skopos theory is a concept from the field of translation studies
.
It was established by the German linguist Hans Vermeer
and comprises the idea that translating and interpreting
should primarily take into account the function of both the source
and target text.
Skopos theory focuses on translation as an activity with an aim or purpose, and on the intended addressee or audience of the translation. To translate means to produce a target text in a target setting for a target purpose and target addressees in target circumstances. In skopos theory, the status of the source text is lower than it is in equivalence-based theories of translation. The source is an "offer of information", which the translator turns into an "offer of information" for the target audience.
Paul Kussmaul writes about this theory: "the functional approach has a great affinity with Skopos theory. The function of a translation is dependent on the knowledge, expectations, values and norms of the target readers, who are again influenced by the situation they are in and by the culture. These factors determine whether the function of the source text or passages in the source text can be preserved or have to be modified or even changed.
Translation studies
Translation studies is an interdiscipline containing elements of social science and the humanities, dealing with the systematic study of the theory, the description and the application of translation, interpreting or both these activities....
.
It was established by the German linguist Hans Vermeer
Hans Vermeer
Prof. Dr. h.c. Hans-Josef Vermeer , German linguist and translation scholar.He was appointed Professor of General and Applied Linguistics at the University of Mainz in Germersheim . After that he held the chair of Translation Studies with special reference to Portuguese at Heidelberg University...
and comprises the idea that translating and interpreting
Interpreting
Language interpretation is the facilitating of oral or sign-language communication, either simultaneously or consecutively, between users of different languages...
should primarily take into account the function of both the source
Source text
A source text is a text from which information or ideas are derived. In translation, a source text is the original text that is to be translated into another language.-Description:...
and target text.
Skopos theory focuses on translation as an activity with an aim or purpose, and on the intended addressee or audience of the translation. To translate means to produce a target text in a target setting for a target purpose and target addressees in target circumstances. In skopos theory, the status of the source text is lower than it is in equivalence-based theories of translation. The source is an "offer of information", which the translator turns into an "offer of information" for the target audience.
Paul Kussmaul writes about this theory: "the functional approach has a great affinity with Skopos theory. The function of a translation is dependent on the knowledge, expectations, values and norms of the target readers, who are again influenced by the situation they are in and by the culture. These factors determine whether the function of the source text or passages in the source text can be preserved or have to be modified or even changed.