A Study On The Translation Of Informative Texts From The Perspective Of Text Typology

Katharina Reiss,the preeminent first-generation translation theorist of the German functional school,classified in her published work Translation Criticism:The Potentials and Limitations text types into four kinds:content-focused(informative),form-focused(expressive),appeal-focused(operative),and audio-medial.Reiss’ skopos theory of translation is based on the view that different text types should make use of different strategies during the process of translating to achieve the goal of an appropriately translated target text.The excerpts used in this thesis come from the Oxford Handbook of International Relations of Asia.International relations is considered a branch of the social sciences and,thus,is treated as an informative text type within the skopos theory of translation.Informative texts are primarily focused on conveying facts,information,knowledge,and perspectives,and are characterized by highly logical language.The focus of this text type is on content rather than on form.In the process of translating,one should utilize simple and clear language to deliver the same concepts and information as the source text.Faithfulness to the source is a paramount principle.Using the translation method of domestication allows the target text to be accessible and possess a clear structure.Faithfulness,coherence,and ease of understanding are the cornerstones for the translation of informative text type.Lexically,the techniques of embellishment,correspondence,and back-translation are utilized to fluently and accurately transmit source text information to the target audience.Syntactically,the use of sequential and reversal,and the division translation method enable the target text to correspond with the target language’s mode of thought in order to maximize the transference of information and provide the target text with a coherent tone and clear logic.