This document provides an overview of functional theories of translation from Germany in the 1970s-1980s. It discusses four notable theorists from this period: 1) Katherine Reiss's text type approach which categorizes texts based on their communicative function, 2) Justa Holz-Manttari's translational action model which views translation as purpose-driven human interaction involving intercultural transfer, 3) Hans Vermeer's skopos theory which emphasizes the purpose of the translation, and 4) Christiane Nord's text analysis model. The document then provides more details on Reiss's text type approach and Holz-Manttari's translational action model.

1. Functional Theories of
Translation
Presented by
Dr. Nighat Ahmed
Department of English (UGS)
NUML, Islamabad
BS-English (Afternoon)
Course = Introduction to
Translation Studies
7th Semester
Section A,B & C
Semester : Spring 2021
6th Lecture (Online)

2. Functional theories from Germany
The 1970’s and 1980’s saw a move away from the static
linguistic typologies of translation shifts and the
emergence and flourishing in Germany of a functionalist
and communicative approach to the analysis of
translation. In this context the following four theorists
and their works are note worthy:
1. Katherine Reiss’s early work on text type.
2. Justa Holz-Manttara’s theory of translational action.
3. Hans. J.Vermeer’s skopos theory.
4. Christiane Nord’s text-analysis model.

3. Details of these theories are given below:
1. Text type Approach
Katherine Reiss’s work in the 1970’s builds on the
concept of equivalence but in her view it is the text
rather than word or the sentence where
communication is achieved and where equivalence
must be sought. Her functional approach aims at
systematizing the assessment of translations. It
borrows from Karl Buhler's three way categorization of
the functions of language/ further Reiss links the three
functions to their corresponding language dimensions
and to the text types.

4. The main features of each text type are given below:
1. Informative text type: Plain communication of facts,
information, knowledge, opinions etc.
2. Expressive text type: Creative composition, the
author uses the aesthetic dimension of language. The
author is foregrounded.
3. Operative text type: Inducting behavioural
responses. The aim of this text is to appeal or
persuade the readers of the text.
4. Audio-medial text: Such as films and visual and
spoken advertisements, which supplement the other
three functions with visual images, music etc.

5. 2. Translational action model by Holz-Manttari
This model by Holz takes up the concepts from
communication theory and action theory. It aims to
provide guidelines for a wide range of professional
translation situations. This approach views
translation as purpose-driven, outcome-oriented
human interaction-and focuses on process of
translation as message-transmitter involving
intercultural transfer.

6. It is not about translating words, sentences or text but is in
every case about guiding the intended co-operation over
cultural barriers enabling functionally oriented
communication.
Interlingual translation is described as ‘translational action
from a source text’, and as a communicative process
involves a series of roles and players:
• The initiator
• The commissioner
• The ST producer
• The TT producer
• The TT users
• The TT receiver