•Baker (1992) Chapter 7 - Pragmaticequivalence• Reiss (1970s) – Functional approach• Holz-Mä ntarri (1984) – Translational action• Vermeer (1970s) and Reiss & Vermeer(1984) – ‘Skopos’ theory• Nord (1988/91) – Text Analysis inTranslation

•Baker (1992) Chapter 7 - Pragmaticequivalence• Reiss (1970s) – Functional approach• Holz-Mä ntarri (1984) – Translational action• Vermeer (1970s) and Reiss & Vermeer(1984) – ‘Skopos’ theory• Nord (1988/91) – Text Analysis inTranslation

Focus on the function of the Focus on the function of the texttext

Focus on the function of the Focus on the function of the texttext

Newmark takes Buhler's functional theory of language as his theoretical basis.

Newmark takes Buhler's functional theory of language as his theoretical basis.

According to Buhler, language has three main functions:

1.the expressive,2. the informative and3. the vocative.

According to Buhler, language has three main functions:

1.the expressive,2. the informative and3. the vocative.

Every original text exercises at the same time these three main functions, with a difference in the significance of each function in the text.

Every original text exercises at the same time these three main functions, with a difference in the significance of each function in the text.

Texts are classified into three broad categories according to their dominant function. 'The core of the expressive function is the mind of the speaker, the writer, the originator of the utterance. He uses the utterance to express his feelings irrespective of any response'. Serious imaginative literature, authoritative statements, autobiography, essays and personal correspondence are typical expressive text-types

Texts are classified into three broad categories according to their dominant function. 'The core of the expressive function is the mind of the speaker, the writer, the originator of the utterance. He uses the utterance to express his feelings irrespective of any response'. Serious imaginative literature, authoritative statements, autobiography, essays and personal correspondence are typical expressive text-types

'The core of the informative function of language is external situation, the facts of a topic, reality outside language, including reported ideas or theories'. Informative texts are concerned with any topic of knowledge and often have standard formats: a textbook, a technical report, a scientific paper or agenda of a meeting. They principally convey information

'The core of the vocative function of language is the readership, the addressee'. The readership is called upon to act, think or feel, or in a word, to react in the way intended by the text. Notices, publicity, propaganda, persuasive writing and advertisements are typical vocative texts.

'The core of the vocative function of language is the readership, the addressee'. The readership is called upon to act, think or feel, or in a word, to react in the way intended by the text. Notices, publicity, propaganda, persuasive writing and advertisements are typical vocative texts.

1.To which text-type does it belong?2. Should the focus of translation be

on the author or on the readership?3. What purpose does the translation

serve?

When faced with a text the translator has to ask himself several questions:

When faced with a text the translator has to ask himself several questions:

The answers to these questions help him to decide which method to adopt: semantic translation or communicative translation, with the former mainly for expressive texts and the latter mainly for informative and vocative.

The answers to these questions help him to decide which method to adopt: semantic translation or communicative translation, with the former mainly for expressive texts and the latter mainly for informative and vocative.

Usually, each text features a primary but not a single function. Therefore it is not thoughtful to say that a text requires a completely semantic or communicative translation.

ADVERTISEMENTSADVERTISEMENTS

FUNCTIONS:FUNCTIONS:

PHATIC, INFORMATIVE, POETIC & PHATIC, INFORMATIVE, POETIC & DIRECTIVEDIRECTIVE

FUNCTIONSFUNCTIONS

PHATIC FUNCTIONPHATIC FUNCTION

ATTRACT ATTENTIONATTRACT ATTENTION

OPEN COMMUNICATION CHANNELOPEN COMMUNICATION CHANNEL

FUNCTIONSFUNCTIONS

INFORMATIVEINFORMATIVE

INTERESTING INFORMATIONINTERESTING INFORMATION

OTHER TEXT TYPES E.G. RECIPIES OR OTHER TEXT TYPES E.G. RECIPIES OR

COMPETITIONSCOMPETITIONS

FUNCTIONSFUNCTIONS

POETIC FUNCTIONPOETIC FUNCTION

CATCHY SLOGANS, METAPHORS, CATCHY SLOGANS, METAPHORS, ALLITERATION, ASSONANCEALLITERATION, ASSONANCE

NEWSPAPER REPORTSNEWSPAPER REPORTS

FUNCTIONS:FUNCTIONS:

MAINLY INFORMATIVE, BUT OFTEN MAINLY INFORMATIVE, BUT OFTEN DIRECTIVE, EXPRESSIVE AND PHATIC DIRECTIVE, EXPRESSIVE AND PHATIC

AS WELL. AS WELL.

Since the number of informative and vocative texts far exceeds that of expressive texts. Most non-literary writings comprise material suitable for communicative translation. On the other hand, original expression, where the manner is as important as the matter, whether it is philosophical, political, technical or literary, needs to be translated semantically. Autobiography, private correspondence and any other personal effusion also require a semantic translation, since the intimate flavor of the original is more important than its effect on the reader.

Since the number of informative and vocative texts far exceeds that of expressive texts. Most non-literary writings comprise material suitable for communicative translation. On the other hand, original expression, where the manner is as important as the matter, whether it is philosophical, political, technical or literary, needs to be translated semantically. Autobiography, private correspondence and any other personal effusion also require a semantic translation, since the intimate flavor of the original is more important than its effect on the reader.

In a literary text there may be a In a literary text there may be a sentence, a paragraph or a section that sentence, a paragraph or a section that requires communicative translation. For requires communicative translation. For instance, when a figurative usage can't instance, when a figurative usage can't be transferred or if transferred the form be transferred or if transferred the form will be quite misleading or will be quite misleading or incomprehensible to the reader, then it incomprehensible to the reader, then it must be translated communicatively. On must be translated communicatively. On the other hand, there may be part of the other hand, there may be part of non-literary writing that requires a non-literary writing that requires a semantic translation. It is impossible to semantic translation. It is impossible to apply only one method to a text. The two apply only one method to a text. The two methods are usually taken into use methods are usually taken into use alternatively with varying focuses.alternatively with varying focuses.

There are times when the two methods can't be distinguished from each other. They actually become one.

There are times when the two methods can't be distinguished from each other. They actually become one.

For instance, if the translation of For instance, if the translation of serious philosophical, artistic or serious philosophical, artistic or technical works is not technical works is not constrained by temporal or constrained by temporal or geographical elements and a geographical elements and a rather close translation can rather close translation can render the reader in the target render the reader in the target language with the same language with the same message and acquaint him with message and acquaint him with the stylistic features of the the stylistic features of the original language, there is no original language, there is no way and no necessity to identify way and no necessity to identify which method is applied.which method is applied.

• Classification of texts as:– 'informative‘– 'expressive‘– 'operative‘– 'audiomedial'

• Classification of texts as:– 'informative‘– 'expressive‘– 'operative‘– 'audiomedial'

Reiss (1970s)Reiss (1970s)Functional approachFunctional approach

Reiss (1970s)Reiss (1970s)Functional approachFunctional approach

Bühler Bühler functions of functions of linguistic signslinguistic signs  

Stiehler Stiehler types of types of human human cognition cognition 

Coseriu Coseriu language language formsforms  

Reiss Reiss text text typestypes  

informative informative (Darstellung) (Darstellung) 

thinking, thinking, perceiving perceiving 

descriptive, descriptive, declarative, declarative, informative informative 

informativeinformative  

expressive expressive (Ausdruck) (Ausdruck) 

feeling feeling  expressive, expressive, affective, affective, emotive emotive 

expressive expressive 

vocative (Appell) vocative (Appell)  willing willing  vocative, vocative, imperative imperative 

operative operative 

Figure 4 -1 Text typologies (after Reiss 1976)Figure 4 -1 Text typologies (after Reiss 1976)

Text conceptText concept Translation typeTranslation type Translation aimTranslation aim

Text = sum of Text = sum of words words 

word-for-word word-for-word translation translation (interlinear) (interlinear) 

comparative comparative linguistic research linguistic research 

Text = sum of Text = sum of sentences sentences 

literal translation literal translation (grammar (grammar translation) translation) 

foreign language foreign language learning learning 

Text = basic Text = basic linguistic sign linguistic sign   

learned translation learned translation (deliberately (deliberately marked + marked + commentary) commentary) 

study of culture-study of culture-bound language bound language differences differences 

Text = verbal Text = verbal component of a component of a communication communication process (text-with-process (text-with-a-function) a-function) 

communicative communicative translation translation a) normal case a) normal case     b) special subtype b) special subtype 

a) integral a) integral communicative communicative performance performance b) all kinds of b) all kinds of changes of changes of function function 

Figure 4-2 Typology of translation (Reiss 1976)Figure 4-2 Typology of translation (Reiss 1976)