Translation and the Skopos Theory: A Functionalist Approach to Audiovisual Media

The growing internationalisation of the media in recent years makes it essential for audiovisual translation (AVT), including subtitling, dubbing and localization to provide optimum ways audiences can be engaged. Classical translation approaches, which are frequently based on linguistic parity or equivalence, prove unsuccessful when extended to the multimodal and culture-specific reality of AVT. To that effect, the article looks into whether Skopos Theory, a functional approach focusing on the translation purpose rather than equivalence-orientation, can respond to some of AVT’s particular challenges. Through a focus on audience uptake, situational fit and communicative purpose Skopos Theory provides an adaptable foundation for negotiating the demands of language, culture and technology. Analysing examples from film and television, this article demonstrates the value for viewer comprehension and cultural resonance of translating with a focus on ‘function’. The article also touches on the ethical implications and critiques of audiovisual translation but claims that a functionalist methodology, if consciously used, may not necessarily be an obstacle to bridging source and target cultures without mutilating the original audio product.