skopostheorie

/ˌskəʊpəʊsˌteɪəˈɹiː/

skopostheorie means the idea that translating and interpreting should primarily take into account the function of both the source and target text. It carries an Arena rating of 1415, earned across 3 head-to-head judged battles.

Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, skopostheorie ranks #2,839 of 17,138 for Most Incisive Words, #3,435 of 17,151 for The Improbable, #3,698 of 17,163 for Funniest Words, #5,657 of 17,128 for Most Ponderous Words.

skopostheorie is pronounced /ˌskəʊpəʊsˌteɪəˈɹiː/.

Why “skopostheorie” is a great word

Skopostheorie is a theory of translation which holds that the intended function of the finished text, not the form of the original, must govern every decision a translator makes. From German Skopostheorie, a compound of Skopos (from Greek σκοπός, 'aim, goal, purpose') and Theorie ('theory'), coined in the 1970s by German linguist Hans J. Vermeer. Unlike 'equivalence theory,' which seeks a faithful mirror of the source, or 'literal translation,' a slavish adherence to its syntax, Skopostheorie liberates the act into one of purposeful creation. It is the tourist brochure that becomes a poetic postcard, the legal contract recast as a plain-language summary, and the instruction manual adapted for a child—each a target-oriented artifact proving that meaning is not unearthed from words, but forged for a reader.

Etymology

From German, from Skopos + Theorie.

noun

The idea that translating and interpreting should primarily take into account the function of both the source and target text.e.g.“[T]he concept of loyalty suggested by Christiane Nord […] to correct the client-subservient potential of Skopostheorie has both an inherent asymmetry and a value judgement attached to it.” — 2008, Candace Séguinot, edited by John Kearns, Translator and Interpreter Training: Issues, Methods and Debates, Continuum International Publishing Group, pages 8–9:

Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Words closest in meaning

By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.

skopos 76% match — The function of a written or spoken text, especially in the context of translating and interpreting. vs skopostheorie →
translatology 51% match — The study of the theory and practice of translating and interpreting, especially in an academic context, combining elements of social science and the humanities. vs skopostheorie →
architranseme 50% match — A theoretical common denominator used in the comparison of a source text and its target text. vs skopostheorie →
translatorially 47% match — In a translatorial manner. vs skopostheorie →
intentionalism 47% match — The theory that the meaning of any text is determined by the intentions of its author, whether stated or not. vs skopostheorie →
teleosemantics 46% match — The view that the notion of representation should be defined with respect to biological function. vs skopostheorie →
translatorship 46% match — The role or office of a translator. vs skopostheorie →
traductology 46% match — The study of the theory and practice of translating and interpreting, especially in an academic context, combining elements of social science and the humanities. More commonly known as translation studies or translatology. vs skopostheorie →