On "Positive Misinterpretation"-Viewed From Skopostheorie

Mistranslation is normally described as handling translation incorrectly or improperly as a result of translators'inattention or misunderstanding of the source text, or inadequacy of background knowledge. However,"mistakes"are made on purpose and with creativity in certain circumstances—notwithstanding that translators well understand the original texts or discourses—to best convey the message in line with the audience's cultural background. Despite the variation in the form of the target text from the original, the message gets across and the maximal equivalence is attained in both the function and pragmatic communication. Professionals are well aware that such creative mistranslation is more often than not inevitable due to cultural differences. Regretfully little effort has been made in introducing it to the realm of interpreting, nor are the technical terms unified in the relevant researches that have been merely confined to written translation.This paper attempts to reclassify misinterpretation (the integration of mistranslation and interpretation) into two general categories in light of their actual function and effect, and proposes such fresh terms as"positive misinterpretation"and its counterpart"negative misinterpretation", in a bid to introduce mistranslation into the area of interpreting. The author views"positive misinterpretation"as the deviation from the original message as a result of interpreter's purposeful endeavor or an effective strategy to tap his/her subjective initiative, which is preceded and dominated by the target text function that the interpreter intends to fulfill—the very purpose of the interpreter.Skopostheorie, the core of German functionalist approach, holds translation is a purposeful activity and that translation end justifies the means, which endows translators or interpreters with due freedom to take the initiative for any appropriate strategies if their particular purposes could be attained, and make any readjustment if it is needed to realize the intended target text function. It provides a sound theoretical support to"positive misinterpretation"and its application.Studying"positive misinterpretation"from the perspective of Skopostheorie will inspire related research and help set free interpreters by rendering due respect and attention to their status and creativity. The significance of this tentative study is to offer some guidance for better interpreting performance, which is under constant challenge.This paper falls into seven chapters. Chapter One, a brief introduction, draws forth several research questions the author tries to answer. Chapter Two is a general description of interpretation, regarding definition, characteristics, criteria, as well as qualities expected of interpreters, etc. Chapter Three, based on previous studies of mistranslation, delves into misinterpretation, brings forward the definition of"positive misinterpretation", as well as elaborates on its causes and interpreter's roles in this process, with particular emphasis placed on the relationship between positive misinterpreting and interpreter's subjective initiative or creativity. Chapter Four presents a framework of Skopostheorie, its development, essence and significance, serving as a theoretical guideline to positive misinterpreting and its justification. Chapter Five discusses the four basic manifestations of addition, omission, alteration and reorganization, while Chapter Six focuses on the Skopostheorie-based evaluation. Chapter Seven, by eliciting the merit and demerit of this study, orients the future research—studying misinterpretation from the actual effect it achieves under the guidance of Skopostheorie.