Zieltextlesers

Zieltextlesers refers to the presumed recipient or intended readership of a translated text, i.e., the target audience for which the translation is produced. In translation studies, this concept helps define the goals and constraints of a translation, guiding choices in style, terminology, tone, and complexity. The identification of Zieltextleser includes factors such as the reader's language proficiency, cultural background, professional domain, prior knowledge, and the purpose of reading (information, instruction, entertainment, persuasion).

Translators and localization teams use Zieltextleser analyses to decide whether to domesticate or foreignize, how literal or free the rendering should be, and which registers or jargon to use. For example, a translation aimed at general consumers will typically prioritize readability and naturalness, whereas a translation for specialists may preserve technical terms and fidelity to source structures.

Zieltextlesers is distinguished from Quelltextleser, the reader of the source text. The former concerns the reception in the target culture; the latter concerns the expectations of readers in the source culture. In practice, Zieltextlesers can be plural and dynamic, since translations may target multiple sub-audiences or adapt over time to changing needs.

Applications include book publishing, software and website localization, marketing texts, legal and medical translations, and educational materials. Limitations of the concept include its idealized nature and the difficulty of forecasting a single audience; successful translations often require ongoing audience analysis and iterative refinement.