Mistranslation Study From The Perspective Of The Skopos Theory

Based on the Skopos theory of German functionalist school of translation, the author of this thesis attempts to probe into a neglected area of translation study and discuss such significant aspects as definition and classification of mistranslation, factors inducing unintentional mistranslation, theoretical analysis of intentional mistranslation, correlation between domestication and deliberate mistranslation and give some indication of its importance in translation study and practice, linguistic study and teaching.Chapter one explores the problem of defining mistranslation. An age of manifold translation criteria though it is, the author holds that the principle of faithfulness or fidelity still tops all translation criteria and is the maximum principle in translation. Without it, there can be no translation in its real sense. Thus defining mistranslation should be based on the principle of faithfulness. Based on the definitions given in dictionaries, the author ventures to define it as any translation that deviates from the criterion of faithfulness either in content, style and pragmatic effect. Then based on Mr. Luo Jinde's classification of mistranslation, the author argues that mistranslation can be roughly classified into two, viz. unintentional and deliberate mistranslations.Chapter two is devoted to the analysis of the many factors inducing unintentional mistranslations. The author holds that unintentional mistranslations can be further classified into mistranslations of a technical nature and that of a cultural nature. The former is produced by translator's linguistic incompetence and the latter is closely related to translator's cultural incompetence. Significance of studying unintentional mistranslation mainly lies in its pedagogical advantage and translation practice.Chapter three focuses on the analysis of deliberate mistranslation based on the Skopos theory and is the main part of this thesis. The author argues that Skopos theory of German functionalist school is a theory effective in illustrating deliberate mistranslations. "In the deliberate mistranslations, a striking contrast exist in the target culture and the source culture, the translator has to make a choice between the two cultures: either meeting the target readers' cultural expectations by freely changing the manner of expression, literary images or situation or willfully introduces the alien things and do translation using intentionally the unequivalent modes of expression without considering the target readers' ability in understanding"(谢天振, 1999: 195). From the perspective of faithfulness, deliberate mistranslation is translator's purposeful and intentional manipulation of the source text, and thus deserves more attention and exploration.Chapter four analyses the correlation between domestication and deliberate mistranslations. Domestication is a translation strategy characterized by the translator's being subjective and deliberate in catering to the cultural mentality of the target readers. Most of expression, literary images and style are altered considerably in domestication strategy. Thus the author argues that most translations done by adopting domestication strategy are deliberate mistranslations. Factors, both objective and subjective, account for the dying hard of domestication. The objective existence of differences in language and culture is the obiective factors inducing deliberate mistranslations while translator's taking the ability in understanding the source text and the horizon of expectation of target readers into consideration is the subjective factors inducing deliberate mistranslations.In chapter five, values of mistranslation study are touched upon from the perspective of translation teaching and study, linguistic study and rethinking of the principle of faithfulness.In conclusion, the main arguments of this thesis run as follows:In an age of multifold criteria of translation, the "principle of faithfulness" should still be regarded as the maximum principle. Without it, there can be no translation in its real sense. Thus defining mistranslation should be based on the principle of faithfulness. Only by sticking to this principle can we conduct assessment and criticism of translation. Effective and in-depth study of deliberate mistranslation cannot be possible without faithfulness.Deliberate mistranslation differs from unintentional mistranslation in that the former is produced by translator's purposeful and intentional violation of the principle of faithfulness in content, style and pragmatic effect of the original to achieve certain purpose in translation. Skopos theory of German functionalist school is a theory effective in illustrating mistranslations. Analysis of deliberate mistranslations undertaken from the perspective of Skopos theory may help us rethink our translation practice from the perspective of history, politics and culture and emancipate us from the source text-oriented criterion.Domestication and deliberate mistranslation are both characterized by translator's being subjective and purposeful manipulation of source text. Most translations done by adopting domestication strategy are deliberate mistranslations. The objective existence of differences in culture, ideology and ethics justifies, the prevailing of domestication and deliberate mistranslations. Significance of mistranslation study mainly lies in its pedagogical advantage and translation practice. It is also of great significance in promoting translation theory and translation criticism.