Faithfulness In Cross-cultural Translation In Light Of Skopos Theory

Translators have been aware of the cultural elements in translation for a long time. Two strategies of dealing with cultural difference in translation have been presented, that is, the source culture-centered strategy—foreignization and the target readers- oriented strategy—domestication. A version should be faithful to the source culture or to the target readers remains a hot issue in the field of translation.The thesis will discuss faithfulness in cross-cultural in light of skopos theory. Skopos theorists holds that translation is an intentional activity like the other social activities, and translator's intention of translation will determine what translation strategy will be adopted, domestication or foreignization, to popularize the source culture or meet the readers' requirements. But the presence of some insurmountable cultural barriers caused by cultural difference makes them shift their strategies so as to achieve cultural understanding and communication.Consequently no translated version is fully faithful to source culture or target readers. Faithfulness in cross-cultural translation is a relative concept, no one hundred percent faithfulness in translation. The goal of the thesis is to study cross-cultural translation from skopos theory, so that cultural communication between different nations can be achieved, the human being's civilization will develop rapidly and prosper to greatest extent.The thesis is divided into four parts:Chapter one: a survey of translation, including definition of translation, criteria of translation as well as task of translation.