Functionalist analysis
Functionalist analysis is based on the functional approach to translation that was
developed in Germany by a group of scholars, notably Christian Nord. Nord’s approach
emphasized functionalism in translator training, which comprises three aspects:
1. The importance of the translation brief,
2. The role of ST analysis, and
3. The classification and hierarchization of translation problems
The translation brief provides the instructions that guide the work of translators and
help them make appropriate decisions in the translation process. Ideally, it should
include information about:
- the (intended) text function(s) (informative, expressive, operative)
· the TT addressee(s) (their knowledge background, their needs and expectations)
· the (prospective ) time and place of text reception,
· the medium over which the text will be transmitted, and
· the motive for the production or reception of the text (or purpose of translation).
This information helps you determine the requirements for the translation: what text
type and stylistic conventions have to be followed, what cultural or knowledge gaps are
to be filled in, what aspects of the text have priority over other aspects, etc.
ST analysis provides information as to which ST units or elements are relevant to the
text function and have priority over other elements. In other words, it tells you which
elements carry parts of the text meaning, and without them, some meanings are
missing. Text analysis should cover all the text levels and layers.
Identification and classification of translation problems at all text levels and layers
(Nord: pragmatic, cultural, linguistic, textual, structural, syntactic, lexical, morphological,
phonological).
The following table presents all the elements that you have to consider when you do
functionalist analysis:
TRANSLATION ASSIGNMENT REQUIREMENTS
Assignment date:
Reference no.:
Provider:
Name of document:
SL:
TL:
Deadline for submission:
Time of submission:
Type: Simple
Way of submitting: Email
TT format: Word
Unit: TT word
Price per unit:
Final number of units:
EXTRA-LINGUISTIC ASPECTS:
Profile of ST producer and receiver
Reason why the translation has been
requested
Function and intentionality of the TT
Profile and expectations of the target reader
Means of publication of the TT
Time when the ST was written and adaptation
of the TT to the present day (if necessary)
Adaptation of the ST volume to the length or
space required by the client for the TT (if
necessary)
Adaptation of the socio-cultural context of the
ST to the socio-cultural context of the TT (if
necessary)
CONTEXTUALIZATION OF ST:
Field: ST area of specialization—text typology
the prevailing language function (operative,
informative, expressive)
Tenor: relationship between author and
readers:
-contextual knowledge of both the ST author
and the TT readers.
-linguistic register of both the ST author and
the TT readers
Mode of discourse: written or oral
INTRA-LINGUISTIC ASPECTS:
Linguistic
ST
TT
features
MACRO-TEXTUAL ASPECTS
Coherence
Cohesion
MICRO-TEXTUAL ASPECTS
Phonological
and phonetic
features
Orthographic
features
Punctuation
features
Morphological
features
Final price:
Comments on
the translation
strategies
provided
Proposals to
improve the
quality of the
translation
strategies
provided
Phraseological
features
Terminological
features (if
dealing with a
specialized text)
Nonverbal
aspects
OTHER RELEVANT ASPECTS
Pragmatic
features
Cultural features
Dialectal
features
Idiolectal
features
CONCLUSIONS:
Has the translation followed and met the instructions
and requirements of the translation assignment?
Does the translation reflect all the linguistic and textual
features that contribute to the meaning of the text?
Has the translation taken into consideration the target
audience’s expectations?
Does the translation have an acceptable level of
naturalness?
All these factors could be captured by a set of WH- questions based on the New Rhetoric
Formula, which is used by Nord as a guideline to the textual analysis. The questions are as
follows:
Who transmits
On what subject matter
to whom
does he/she say
what for
what
by which medium
(what not)
where
in what order
when
using which non verbal-elements
why
in which words
a text
in what kind of sentences
with what function?
in which tone
to what effect?
Evaluate the translation of the following text from a functionalist perspective:
ST
The Three Little Pigs
Once upon a time there was an old mother pig who
had three little pigs and not enough food to feed
TT
‫الخنازير الثالثة الصغيرة‬
‫كان في قديم الزمان و سالف العصر و األوان خنزيرة عجوز‬
‫لها ثالثة خنازير صغار و لم تكن تجد ما يكفيهم من الطعام‬
them. So when they were old enough, she sent them
out into the world to seek their fortunes.
The first little pig was very lazy. He didn't want to
work at all and he built his house out of straw. The
second little pig worked a little bit harder but he was
somewhat lazy too and he built his house out of
sticks. Then, they sang and danced and played
together the rest of the day.
The third little pig worked hard all day and built his
house with bricks. It was a sturdy house complete
with a fine fireplace and chimney. It looked like it
could withstand the strongest winds.
The next day, a wolf happened to pass by the lane
where the three little pigs lived; and he saw the
straw house, and he smelled the pig inside. He
thought the pig would make a mighty fine meal and
his mouth began to water.
So he knocked on the door and said:
"Little pig! Little pig!
Let me in! Let me in!"
But the little pig saw the wolf's big paws through
the keyhole, so he answered back:
"No! No! No!
Not by the hairs on my chinny
chin chin!"
‫ أطلقتهم ليجد‬،‫ ثم لما بلغوا أشدهم و اشتد عودهم‬.‫تسد به رمقهم‬
‫ و كان أولهم كسوال‬.‫كل واحد منهم سبيله و نصيبه في الحياة‬
‫بلغ به الكسل مبلغا جعله يؤثر الراحة و يترك العمل فبنى بيته‬
‫ عمل الخنزير الثاني قليال لكنه كان كسوال كذلك و‬.‫من القش‬
.‫ ثم غنيا و رقصا و لعبا بقية النهار‬.‫بنى بيته من العصي‬
‫أما الخنزير الثالث فقد اجتهد و عمل بجد طوال النهار و بنى‬
‫ كان بيتا حصينا اكتمل بناؤه بمدفئة و مدخنة‬.‫بيته من الطوب‬
‫ و بلغ من القوة حتى لكأنه قادر على الصمود في وجه‬.‫جميلتين‬
.‫أعتى الرياح‬
‫ حدث و أن مر ذئب بالطريق الذي يعيش‬،‫و في اليوم التالي‬
‫فيه الخنازير الثالثة و رأى بيت القش و استطاع أن يشم رائحة‬
‫ و راودته األفكار بأن هذا الخنزير سيكون‬.‫الخنزير بداخله‬
.‫وليمة فاخرة و بدأ لعابه يسيل‬
.‫ افتح لي الباب‬.‫ أيها الخنزير الصغير‬:‫فطرق الباب و قال‬
‫لكن الخنزير الصغير رأى مخالب الذئب الكبيرة من فتحة‬
.‫ كال لن أفتح الباب لك أبدا‬:‫الباب فأجاب‬
.‫ إذن سأنفخ و أنفث و أهدم بيتك‬:‫فأبرز الذئب أنيابه و قال‬
.‫ففعل و هدم البيت‬
‫فتح الذئب فمه بقوة و حاول أن يطبق بفكيه على الخنزير‬
‫ لكن الخنزير تمكن من الهرب إلى‬،‫بأقصى ما يستطيع من قوة‬
‫ استمر الذئب يسير في الطريق و مر ببيت‬.‫منزل أخيه الثاني‬
‫الخنزير الثاني المصنوع من العصي و استطاع أن يشم رائحة‬
‫ و بدأ لعابه يسيل و هو يتخيل وجبة‬،‫الخنزيرين في الداخل‬
.‫الغداء الفاخرة التي سيحصل عليها‬
Then the wolf showed his teeth and said:
"Then I'll huff
and I'll puff
and I'll blow your house down."
So he huffed and he puffed and he blew the house
down! The wolf opened his jaws very wide and bit
down as hard as he could, but the first little pig
escaped and ran away to hide with the second little
pig.
The wolf continued down the lane and he passed by
the second house made of sticks; and he saw the
house, and he smelled the pigs inside, and his mouth
began to water as he thought about the fine dinner
they would make.
TRANSLATION ASSIGNMENT REQUIREMENTS
Assignment date:
Provider:
Reference no.:
Name of document:
SL:
TL:
Deadline for submission:
Time of submission:
Type: Simple
Way of submitting: Email
TT format: Word
Unit: TT word
Price per unit:
Final number of units:
Final price:
EXTRA-LINGUISTIC ASPECTS:
Profile of ST producer and receiver
American author, American children
Reason why the translation has been requested
For educational, entertainment reasons
Function and intentionality of the TT
To enrich Arab children’s language and enhance
certain values
Profile and expectations of the target reader
Young Arab, Muslim readers. Their parents expect
them to read something that enriches their
language, teaches them values, and is in line with
their Islamic traditions and values.
Means of publication of the TT
Paper and online publication
Time when the ST was written and adaptation of
It is timeless
the TT to the present day (if necessary)
Adaptation of the ST volume to the length or space Not applicable
required by the client for the TT (if necessary)
Adaptation of the socio-cultural context of the ST
to the socio-cultural context of the TT (if necessary)
CONTEXTUALIZATION OF ST:
Field: ST area of specialization—text typology
A children’s story
The prevailing language function (operative,
A mixture of all these functions
informative, expressive)
Tenor: relationship between author and readers:
-contextual knowledge of both the ST author and
the TT readers.
-linguistic register of both the ST author and the TT Author uses simple language, simple structure;
readers
sometimes informal language.
Mode of discourse: written or oral
INTRA-LINGUISTIC ASPECTS:
Linguistic features ST
TT
Comments on the
Proposals to
translation
improve the
strategies
quality of the
provided
translation
strategies
provided
MACRO-TEXTUAL ASPECTS
Coherence
Cohesion
MICRO-TEXTUAL ASPECTS
Phonological and
phonetic features
Orthographic
features
Punctuation
features
Morphological
features
Phraseological
features
Terminological
features (if dealing
with a specialized
text)
Nonverbal aspects
OTHER RELEVANT ASPECTS
Pragmatic
features
Cultural features
Dialectal features
Idiolectal features
CONCLUSIONS:
Has the translation followed and met the instructions and
requirements of the translation assignment?
Does the translation reflect all the linguistic and textual
features that contribute to the meaning of the text?
Has the translation taken into consideration the target
audience’s expectations?
Does the translation have an acceptable level of naturalness?
ST
Nobel Prize for Peace Speech
Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses, distinguished
members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, citizens of Am
erica, and citizens of the world: I receive this honor with dee
p gratitude and great humility. It's an award
that speaks to our highest aspirations that for all the
cruelty and hardship of our world, we are not mere prisoners
of fate. Our actions matter, and can bend history in
the direction of justice.
TT
‫خطاب جائزة نوبل للسالم‬
‫ األعضاء المتميزين‬،‫ سموكم الملكي‬،‫جالالتكم‬
‫ مواطني‬،‫ مواطني أمريكا‬،‫للجنة نوبل النرويجية‬
‫ أستقبل هذا الشرف بعرفان عميق و تواضع‬:‫العالم‬
‫ إنها جائزة تتحدث إلى طموحاتنا العليا التي‬.‫عظيم‬
‫ نحن لسنا‬،‫من أجل القسوة و الشدة التي في عالمنا‬
‫ و يمكن أن تحني‬،‫ أفعالنا مادة‬.‫مجرد سجناء للقدر‬
.‫التاريخ في طريق العدل‬
TRANSLATION ASSIGNMENT REQUIREMENTS
Assignment date:
Reference no.:
Provider:
Name of document:
SL:
TL:
Deadline for submission:
Time of submission:
Type: Simple
Way of submitting: Email
TT format: Word
Unit: TT word
Price per unit:
Final number of units:
Final price:
EXTRA-LINGUISTIC ASPECTS:
Profile of ST producer and receiver
USA president addressing audience attending a
very formal ceremony.
Reason why the translation has been requested
The Arab audience is watching a live transmission
of the ceremony
Function and intentionality of the TT
To transmit what Obama says on this international
Profile and expectations of the target reader
Means of publication of the TT
Time when the ST was written and adaptation of
the TT to the present day (if necessary)
Adaptation of the ST volume to the length or space
required by the client for the TT (if necessary)
Adaptation of the socio-cultural context of the ST
to the socio-cultural context of the TT (if necessary)
CONTEXTUALIZATION OF ST:
Field: ST area of specialization—text typology
the prevailing language function (vocative,
informative, expressive)
Tenor: relationship between author and readers:
-contextual knowledge of both the ST author and
the TT readers.
-linguistic register of both the ST author and the TT
readers
Mode of discourse: written or oral
INTRA-LINGUISTIC ASPECTS:
Linguistic features ST
TT
MACRO-TEXTUAL ASPECTS
Coherence
Cohesion
MICRO-TEXTUAL ASPECTS
Phonological and
phonetic features
Orthographic
features
Punctuation
features
Morphological
features
Phraseological
features
Terminological
features (if dealing
with a specialized
text)
Nonverbal aspects
OTHER RELEVANT ASPECTS
Pragmatic
features
Cultural features
Dialectal features
Idiolectal features
event.
Arabs of all different backgrounds.
Live transmission on TV
NA
NA
NA
A formal speech
Expressive
President addressing the world
Very formal language
Oral
Comments on the
translation
strategies
provided
Proposals to
improve the
quality of the
translation
strategies
provided
CONCLUSIONS:
Has the translation followed and met the instructions and
requirements of the translation assignment?
Does the translation reflect all the linguistic and textual
features that contribute to the meaning of the text?
Has the translation take into consideration the target
audience’s expectations?
Does the translation have an acceptable level of naturalness?