A Survey On The Functional Translation Theory

Translation has become extremely important as an instrument of inter-lingual communication and cultural exchange. Various kinds of translation theories have been put forward as man's understanding of translation becomes deeper and deeper. It is under this kind of circumstances that the functional concept of translation was put forward by some German scholars in 1970s. Owing to the great contributions done by Katharina Reiss. Hans J. Vermeer, Justa-Holz Manttari and Christiane Nord, the concept developed into the sound system of the functional translation theory. Different from the equivalence-based theories, it dethrones the authority of the source-text and puts the translation study into the framework of the action theory and cross-cultural communication theory. Translation in this theory is defined as a part of translational action which is viewed as the process of transferring message transmitters produced by translators. And translation is characterized by the intentional, communicative, intercultural, interpersonal and text-producing features. Essentially, the theory involves viewing translation as a purposeful activity and the focus of this theory is on the function or functions of texts and translations, especially the target- text's function. As Vermeer puts, the overall frame of reference for the translator should not be theoriginal and its function, as equivalence-based theory would have it, but the function or set of functions the target-text is to achieve in the target culture.This theory tries to liberate translation from the constraints of the source-text and to expound the translating action from the translator's perspective. Thus it has opened up a new perspective to E-C and C-E translation studies. First, the functional translation theory has directive function to translation practice. It enlightens us to do translation and to evaluate translation with multi-dimensional criteria because the adequacy criterion is a dynamic concept. Second, the concept has provided theoretical basis for some translation practices used to be considered against the existing criteria of translation but with satisfactory practical outcome and provoked reappraisal of certain methods such as abridgement, adaptation and so on. As a result, a study on various translation varieties is evoked in China. This paper aims to provide an in-depth discussion of the functional translation theory whose nucleus is Skopostheory so that to justify its advantages and to find the fields where it is useful.Chapter one tells the purpose I want to survey the theory so that the whole survey is oriented toward the major concerns of the thesis. Chapter two is the introduction about the theory which consists of four parts: a brief overview of howthe functional translation theory came into being and its nucleus, the definition and nature of translation, roles of participants involved in the translation process and the basic principles of translation. Chapter three is the analysis of and comments on the theory. Chapter four is the details about the theory's role of enlightenment to our translation studies and practices. Chapter five will illustrate the fields the theory can be applied to and its role in E-C and C-E translation practice. The margin area worth further study in the theory will form into Chapter six. And the last part is the conclusion of the whole thesis.