MUNDAY, Jeremy. 2001.

Introducing
Translation Studies – Theories and
Applications. London and New York:
Routledge.

Ch 5. Functional theories of
translation
 5.3 Reiss & Vermeer (1984) – ‘Skopos’ theory

• Skopos (Greek for “aim”, “purpose”)

• Vermeer and Reiss take the

previous ideas on text function

• as well as the translational action

model to develop what is known as

• the 'skopos' theory.

 5.3 Reiss & Vermeer (1984) – ‘Skopos’ theory
• The difference in focus here is that
• the ST is the point of departure and the
skopos refers to:

• “knowing why a ST is to be translated

• and what the function of the TT will be”,

i.e.

• the focus is on purpose or skopos of

translation.
 5.3 Reiss & Vermeer (1984) – ‘Skopos’ theory

• These two aspects are crucial for the

translator.

• They determine the translation methods

and strategies to be used in order to
produce a functionally adequate result.

• Reiss & Vermeer aim at general

translation theory for all texts.
 5.3 Skopos theory
• Rules p79
1.A translatum (or TT) is determined by its skopos.
2.A TT is an offer of information (message) in a target
culture/TL concerning an offer of information
(message) in a source culture/SL.
3.A TT is not clearly reversible.
4.A TT must be internally coherent.
5.A TT must be coherent with the ST.
6.These 5 rules stand in hierarchical order - skopos
predominating.
 5.3 Skopos theory
• Rule 2 relates the ST and TT to their
function in their respective linguistic and
cultural contexts. The translator is the key
player.
• Rule 3 is particularly suggests that the TT
is not necessarily clearly 'reversible’, that
is,
• the function of the TT in its target cultures
is not necessarily the same as in the
source culture.
 5.3 Skopos theory
• Rule 4 (the 'coherence rule‘): the TT
must be translated in such a way that
it is coherent for the TT receivers,
given their circumstances and
knowledge.

• Rule 5 (the 'fidelity rule‘): there must

be coherence between the translatum
(TT) and the ST.
 5.3 Skopos theory
• Also of interest is Vermeer's idea that
the skopos model can result in
• the same text being translated
differently in different circumstances.

• (The example of the ambiguity in a

will p80, Vermeer’s example):
• the real will written in French vs. the
will that appears in the novel.
 5.3.1 Discussion of skopos theory
• The criticisms (Nord 1997 and Schäffner 1997):
(1) What was imagined to be a general theory is in
fact only valid for non-literary texts.
• Vermeer’s ANSWER: he stresses that goals,
purposes, functions and intentions are
‘attributed to’ actions.
• Thus a writer of a poem may have goals of
having the resultant translatum (poem)
published and of keeping copyright over it to
make money from its reproduction.
 5.3.1 Discussion of skopos theory
• The criticisms (Nord 1997 and Schäffner 1997):
(2) Reiss’s text type approach and Vermeer’s
skopos theory are in fact considering
different functional phenomena and cannot
be lumped together.
POINTS at issue:
- To what extent does ST type determine
translation method?
- What is the logic of the link between ST type
and translation skopos?
 5.3.1 Discussion of skopos theory

• The criticisms (Nord 1997 and

Schäffner 1997):
(3) Skopos theory does not pay sufficient
attention to the linguistic nature of the
ST.
– This issue is tackled by Nord
1988/1991.