Translating as a Purposeful Activity: Functionalist Approaches Explained

by Christiane Nord

Overview

This bestselling text is a comprehensive overview of functionalist approaches to translation in English. Christiane Nord, one of the leading figures in translation studies, explains the complexities of theories and terms in simple language with numerous examples. Covering how the theories developed, illustrations of the main ideas, and specific applications to translator training, literary translation, interpreting and ethics, Translating as a Purposeful Activity concludes with a concise review of both criticisms and perspectives for the future. Now with a Foreword by Georges Bastin and a new chapter covering the recent developments and elaborations of the theory, this is an essential text for students of translation studies and for translator training.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781138573345
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	03/06/2018
Series:	Translation Theories Explored
Edition description:	New
Pages:	166
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Christiane Nord is Professor Emerita of Translation Studies and Specialized Communication at the University of Applied Sciences of Magdeburg, Germany, and Visiting Professor at several universities of the People’s Republic of China. She also holds the position of Professor Extraordinary and Research Fellow at the University of the Free State, South Africa. Her homepage can be found at www.christiane-nord.de.

Table of Contents

Foreword to the new English edition

Introduction

1. Historical Overview

Early Views

Katharina Reiss and the Functional Category of Translation Criticism

Hans J. Vermeer: Skopostheorie and Beyond

Justa Holz-Mänttäri and the Theory of Translational Action

Fuctionalist Methodology in Translator Training

2. Translating and the Theory of Action

Translating as a Form of Translational Interaction

Translating as Intentional Interaction

Translating as Interpersonal Interaction

Translating as a Communicative Action

Translating as Intercultural Action

Translating as a Text-Processing Action

3. Basic Concepts of Skopostheorie

Skopos, Aim, Purpose, Intention, Function and Translation Brief

Intratextual and Intertextual Coherence

The Concept of Culture and Culture-Specificity

Adequacy and Equivalence

The Role of Text Classifications

4. Functionalism in Translator Training

A Translation-Oriented Model of Communicative Functions in Texts

A Functional Typology of Translations

Norms and Conventions in Functional Translation

Source-text Analysis, Translation Briefs and Identifying Translation Problems

A Functional Hierarchy of Translation Problems

Translation Units Revisited

Translation Errors and Translation Evaluation

5. Functionalism in Literary Translation

Actional Aspects of Literary Communication

Literary Communication across Culture Barriers

Skopos and Assignment in Literary Translation

Some examples

6. Functionalism Approaches to Interpreting

The Role of Interpreting in Spokostheorie

Translator Training: From Interpreting to Translation

A Functionalist Approach to Simulteanous Interpreting

7. Criticisms

Criticism 1: Not All Actions Have an Intention

Criticism 2: Not All Translations Have a Purpose

Criticism 3: Functional Approaches Transgress the Limits of Translation Proper

Criticism 4: Skopostheorie Is Not an Original Theory

Criticism 5: Functionalism Is Not Based on Empirical Findings

Criticism 6: Functionalism Produces Mercenary Experts

Criticism 7: Functionalism Does Not Respect the Original

Criticism 8: Functionalism Is a Theory of Adaptation

Criticism 9: Functionalism Does Not Work in Literary Translation

Criticism 10: Functionalism Is Marked by Cultural Relativism

8. Function plus Loyalty

9. Future Perspectives at the end of the 1990s

Functionalism in the Profession

Functionalism in Academia

Functionalism in the English-speaking World

Functional Translation and Democracy

10. Skopos Theory and Functionalism in the New Millenium

The Academic World

The Wranslator’s Workplace

Functionalism in Legal Translation

Functionalism in Literary and Religious Texts

Adaptation and Transfer Studies

Glossary

Bibliographical References

Editorial Reviews

"This widely used and highly popular book is back – in revised form. With an added chapter on the spread of functionalism throughout the world and numerous small revisions, it promises to keep functionalism growing. Both students and researchers should find it enlightening and challenging – of both theory and practice."

Kobus Marais, University of the Free State, South Africa

"This timely new edition of Christiane Nord’s landmark work takes functionalist approaches into the next generation. The consideration of recent trends and applications reflects the author’s deep vision and pedagogical talent. The result is a most comprehensive and readable overview for anyone seeking to understand translation as professional communication."

Fernando Prieto Ramos, University of Geneva, Switzerland

From the Publisher