Functional Translation Theory Compared To An Older Version

Seminar paper from the year 2005 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Linguistics, grade: 2,3, University of Paderborn (Anglistik/Amerikanistik), course: Linguistics and the Theory of Translation, language: English, abstract: 1. Introduction "Translation ist eine Sondersorte des kommunikativen Handelns, welches kulturspezifisch ist. Ihr oberster Primat ist der funktionale Zweck. Die Skopostheorie sieht im Translat ein Informationsangebot in der Zielkultur über ein Informationsangebot aus einer Ausgangskultur. Wichtiger als die Nähe zwischen Ausgangs- und Zieltext ist die kulturspezifische Kohärenz des Translats." This is an appropriate summary of what the functional translation theory according to Radegundis Stolze is about. In this paper I want to explain what the fundamental ideas are, how exactly this theory works and where some of its difficulties lie. I will also show the theory of translation Nida and Taber developed originally to translate texts from the Bible, but that can be used in every situation. Because of this universality Nida and Taber’s theory of translation can be well compared to the functional translation theory as both consider function as a priority.

German-language approaches to translation have been revolutionized by the theory of action (Handlungstheorie) and the related theory of translation's goal or purpose (Skopstheorie). Both these approaches are functionalist: they seek to liberate translators from servitude to the source text, seeing translation as a new communicative act that must be purposeful with respect to the translator's client and readership. As one of the leading figures in this field, Christiane Nord gives the first full survey of functionalist approaches in English. She explains the complexities of the theories and their terms, using simple language with numerous examples. The book includes an overview of how the theories developed, illustrations of the main ideas, and specific applications to translator training, literary translation, interpreting and ethics. The survey concludes with a concise review of the criticisms that have been made of the theories, together with perspectives for the future development of functionalist approaches.

This collection features eight interviews with seven senior scholars, whose seminal works involve the application of Systemic Functional Linguistica (SFL) to translation studies have advanced Systemic Functional Translation Studies (SFTS) as a research agenda in its own right, with critical reflections and insights into future directions. The book introduces SFTS as a research field, tracing its development and situating the contributions of the scholars interviewed within this tradition. An international group of researchers working across a diverse range of topics within SFTS are interviewed, including Christian M.I.M. Matthiessen, Erich Steiner, J.R. Martin, Juliane House, Jeremy Munday, Adriana Pagano and Akila Sellami-Baklouti. Taken together, the collection offers a comprehensive account of theoretical and methodological developments in SFTS, with critical overviews of these scholars’ body of work within the research area and reflections on the emerging research that pushes SFTS scholarship into new frontiers. This volume will be of particular interest to scholars in translation studies and Systemic Functional Linguistics, as well as those interested in innovations in linguistic theory.

This book offers a comprehensive account of Systemic Functional Translation Studies (SFTS) - a research area that applies Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) to study translation, and to relate researches by scholars in the community of both SFL and translation studies. The important trends as well as contributions in SFTS will be summarised. Various topics in SFTS will be covered in the six chapters of this book, including the basic issues and concepts in SFTS; the relationship between SFTS, the cognate functional approaches, translation studies and translation practice; SFTS and different modes of meaning; registerial variation and SFTS; technologies and SFTS as well as a future outlook on SFTS. The objectives of this book include to provide a comprehensive introduction to SFTS; to relate SFTS to translation studies; to summarise the important contributions and limitations of SFTS; and to offer directions for future researches in SFTS, reflecting on what is currently missing from the SFL theory.

"Early Theories of Translation" by Flora Ross Amos. Published by Good Press. Good Press publishes a wide range of titles that encompasses every genre. From well-known classics & literary fiction and non-fiction to forgotten−or yet undiscovered gems−of world literature, we issue the books that need to be read. Each Good Press edition has been meticulously edited and formatted to boost readability for all e-readers and devices. Our goal is to produce eBooks that are user-friendly and accessible to everyone in a high-quality digital format.

Exploring Translation Theories presents a comprehensive analysis of the core contemporary paradigms of Western translation theory. The book covers theories of equivalence, purpose, description, uncertainty, localization, and cultural translation. This second edition adds coverage on new translation technologies, volunteer translators, non-lineal logic, mediation, Asian languages, and research on translators’ cognitive processes. Readers are encouraged to explore the various theories and consider their strengths, weaknesses, and implications for translation practice. The book concludes with a survey of the way translation is used as a model in postmodern cultural studies and sociologies, extending its scope beyond traditional Western notions. Features in each chapter include: An introduction outlining the main points, key concepts and illustrative examples. Examples drawn from a range of languages, although knowledge of no language other than English is assumed. Discussion points and suggested classroom activities. A chapter summary. This comprehensive and engaging book is ideal both for self-study and as a textbook for Translation theory courses within Translation Studies, Comparative Literature and Applied Linguistics.

"This book offers a comprehensive account of Systemic Functional Translation Studies (SFTS) - a research area that applies Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) to study translation, and to relate researches by scholars in the community of both SFL and translation studies"--

This is the first English translation of the seminal book by Katharina Reiß and Hans Vermeer, Grundlegung einer allgemeinen Translationstheorie, first published in 1984. The first part of the book was written by Vermeer and explains the theoretical foundations and basic principles of skopos theory as a general theory of translation and interpreting or ‘translational action’, whereas the second part, penned by Katharina Reiß, seeks to integrate her text-typological approach, first presented in 1971, as a ‘specific theory’ that focuses on those cases in which the skopos requires equivalence of functions between the source and target texts. Almost 30 years after it first appeared, this key publication is now finally accessible to the next generations of translation scholars. In her translation, Christiane Nord attempts to put skopos theory and her own concept of ‘function plus loyalty’ to the test, by producing a comprehensible, acceptable text for a rather heterogeneous audience of English-speaking students and scholars all over the world, at the same time as acting as a loyal intermediary for the authors, to whom she feels deeply indebted as a former student and colleague.

What’s new in Translation Studies? In offering a critical assessment of recent developments in the young discipline, this book sets out to provide an answer, as seen from a European perspective today. Many “new” ideas actually go back well into the past, and the German Romantic Age proves to be the starting-point. The main focus lies however on the last 20 years, and, beginning with the cultural turn of the 1980s, the study traces what have turned out since then to be ground-breaking contributions (new paradigms) as against what was only a change in position on already established territory (shifting viewpoints). Topics of the 1990s include nonverbal communication, gender-based Translation Studies, stage translation, new fields of interpreting studies and the effects of new technologies and globalization (including the increasingly dominant role of English). The author’s aim is to stimulate discussion and provoke further debate on the current profile and future perspectives of Translation Studies.

This bestselling text is a comprehensive overview of functionalist approaches to translation in English. Christiane Nord, one of the leading figures in translation studies, explains the complexities of theories and terms in simple language with numerous examples. Covering how the theories developed, illustrations of the main ideas, and specific applications to translator training, literary translation, interpreting and ethics, Translating as a Purposeful Activity concludes with a concise review of both criticisms and perspectives for the future. Now with a Foreword by Georges Bastin and a new chapter covering the recent developments and elaborations of the theory, this is an essential text for students of translation studies and for translator training.