7.1 Equivalence theory vs. Skopos theory

TL;DR

Translation theory has evolved from the idea of equivalence to considering the purpose of the translation, allowing for different approaches and strategies.

Transcript

Saussure was one of the first to bring up the problem that different languages cut up the world in different ways. So that's a sheep and that is... what is that called, please? Mutton. Lovely. Thank you. In French, though, they're both called mouton. The animal and the meat have the same name in English, one is a sheep and the other is mutton. So t... Read More

Key Insights

• 💨 Translation poses challenges due to the different ways languages categorize the world.
• 💱 The equivalence paradigm suggests changing the text to achieve communicative functional equivalents in translation.
• 👻 Skopos theory introduced the concept of considering the purpose of the translation, allowing for different translation strategies.
• 🎯 Skopos theory recognizes that translations often have different purposes and targets, requiring translators to consider the instructions received from the client to achieve the desired effect.
• 💼 Equivalence is still possible in translation, but it is reduced to a special case within the Skopos theory.
• 🏑 Skopos theory highlights the importance of the translator's expertise in intercultural communication and collaboration with clients or experts in the field.
• 🧑‍🏭 Different theorists within the Skopos approach may prioritize different factors, such as the translator's decision, client's instructions, or collaborative expertise.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why did Saussure argue that translation was impossible?

Saussure believed that different languages cut up semantic space differently, making it impossible to translate words directly.

Q: What is the equivalence paradigm in translation theory?

The equivalence paradigm suggests that translation involves changing the text to establish communicative functional equivalents between languages.

Q: How did Skopos theory challenge the equivalence paradigm?

Skopos theory introduced the idea that the purpose of the translation determines the translation strategy, leading to different approaches and translations for different purposes and audiences.

Q: Who decides the purpose of the translation according to Skopos theorists?

Skopos theorists differ on this point, with some arguing that the translator decides, while others believe that it depends on the instructions received from the client.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Different languages categorize the world differently, making translation challenging.

• Structuralism initially suggested that translation was impossible due to the differences in language systems.

• The equivalence paradigm emerged, advocating for changing the text to achieve equivalence between languages.

• Skopos theory introduced the concept of considering the purpose of the translation, allowing for different strategies and approaches.