skopostheorie

Skopostheorie, or Skopos theory, is a functionalist approach to translation studies. It was developed in the 1970s, primarily by the German‑Swiss linguist Hans Vermeer, with contributions from Katharina Reiß and others. The central claim is that the translation process is governed by the purpose (skopos) of the target text in its specific cultural and communicative context, rather than by a search for linguistic or formal fidelity to the source text.

The key concepts include skopos (the intended function of the translated text), Auftrag (the commission or instruction given to the translator, which defines the skopos), Empfänger (the target audience), and Kontext (the situational context). The translator is viewed as an agent who selects translation procedures to fulfill the skopos, even if this requires deviations from the source text’s wording or structure. Therefore, the theory legitimizes domestication, adaptation, or other strategies that suit the target function, rather than insisting on literal equivalence.

Skopostheorie is part of the broader functionalist tradition in translation studies and has influenced fields such as localization and translation for international communication, media, and business. It emphasizes the pragmatic goals of translation tasks and the negotiated nature of meaning across cultures.

Critics argue that the theory can be underspecified or overly permissive, risking excessive deviation from the source text or requiring external judgments about the appropriate function. Proponents respond that explicit briefing (the Auftrag) and consideration of the target context can mitigate these issues. Overall, skopostheorie shifted attention from linguistic fidelity to the purposeful transfer of meaning in context.