The Basic Rules of the Skopos Theory as Laid Down by Vermeer and Reiss Are

The basic rules of the Skopos theory : 1) The final version of the TT is determined by its skopos which means that the purpose of the TT is the main determinant for the chosen translation methods and strategies 2) The role of the ST in the source culture may be different to the role of the TT in the target culture. 3) The TT must take into account the receivers situation and background knowledge ! it must be "internally coherent#. $) The TT must be faithful to the ST ! "coherent with the ST#. %ere the translator is the key& as the information provided by the ST must be determined& interpreted and relayed to the target audience. ')a TT must be coherent with the ST& which means that there must be coherence between the ST information received by the translator& the interpretation the translator makes of this information and the information that is encoded for the TT receivers i.e. interte(tual coherence ') These rules are in order of importance& so skopos has the prime position *unday& 2++1& p.,-)

f the commission falls beyond the scope of the specifications& that is if the translator is unable to produce the best possible TT available& then an "optimal# version should be agreed upon /ermeer& 1-0-& p.23). /ermeer offers four definitions of the term optimal”: "  "one of the best translations possible in the given circumstances#  "one of those that best realie the goal in 4uestion#  "as good as possible in view of the resources available#  as good as possible) "in view of the wishes of the client# /ermeer& 1-0-& p.23).

n a later publication& /ermeer 1--: 12f) conte(tualies skopos theory e(plicitly as a form of action theory. %e sets out a number of a(ioms & now called& in 5nglish& "theses#

1. 6ll acting presupposes a "point of departure#& i.e. an actors position in space and time& convictions& theories& etc.& including their respective history. 2. 6ll acting is goaloriented. 3. 7rom a variety of possibilities 8...9 that action will be chosen which one believes one has the best reasons for choosing under the prevailing circumstances. The reasons) may not be conscious for the actor. $. iven the prevailing circumstances& an actor tries to reach the intended goal by what seem to him the;an optimal way& i.e.& for which he believes he has the best overall reasons). '. Translating is acting& i.e. a goaloriented procedure carried out in such a way as the translator deems optimal under the prevailing circumstances. . Thesis ' is a general thesis valid for all types of translating 8including interpreting9. ,. n translating& all potentially pertinent factor s including the source te(t on all its levels) are taken into consideration as far as the skopos of translating allows and/or demands . 85mphasis srcinal9 0. The skopos of translational) acting determines the strategy for reaching the intended goal.

%owever& Skopos has been criticised on several grounds. 7irstly& it has been said that it does not apply to literary te(ts& because it could be considered that they serve no purpose. *unday& 2++1& p.01< /ermeer& 1-0-& p.23+). f this were the case& then Skopos cannot claim to be a legitimate general theory for translation& as indicated by the title of =eiss and /ermeers 1-0$ publication. /ermeer argues strongly against this point by insisting that literary works are created with a specific goal in mind& even if it is reduced to the simplest "art for the sake of art# premise /ermeer& 1-0-& p.231). The application of skopos to a literary te(t may& in fact& suppress some of the intended deeper levels of meaning that are open for reflection to readers of the ST. %owever& /ermeer counters this particular argument by claiming that if the reading of a literary TT on multiple levels is desired& it should be clearly stated at the time of the commission /ermeer& 1-0-& p.232). 7rom a linguistic perspective& Skopos has been condemned for being stylistically and semantically loose& as well as for not paying enough attention to TT microlevel features *unday& 2++1& p.01). t has e.g. been criticised for being too simplistic& and for not being a real academic theory. The reason why the skopos theory is not perceived as a real theory by some is that a real scientific theory must per definition be formulated as a hypothesis that can be empirically tested Sch>oldager 2++0: 101). This is by some perceived as a problem because the skopos theory sets

up prescriptions& however& these prescriptions have not been empirically tested& and they therefore merely describe ideals. ?oncluding remarks t is seen that the main concern of the skopos theory is the function of the TT and the TT receiver. Skopos is established by the translator based on the translation brief. The skopos theory does not decide whether the translator should make a direct SToriented translation or a freer TT oriented translation. t depends on the translation situation and the brief. @n micro level& the theory does not provide the translator with any guidelines because these are different for each TT depending on the skopos. Aith the skopos theory as theoretical framework& it will be interesting to investigate whether the participants in the two empirical studies live up to its prescriptions.