Translating as a Purposeful Activity
Functionalist Approaches Explained
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Book Description
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.
Table of Contents
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 Text Functions
A Functional Typology of Translation
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 t Translation
A Functionalism Approach to Simulteanous Interpreting
7. Criticisms
8. Function plus Loyalty
9. Future Perspectives at the end of the 1990s
10. Skopos Theory and Functionalism in the New Millenium
Glossary
Bibliographical References
Author(s)
Biography
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.
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