Abstract:Skopostheorie is the most influential in German functionalist translation theory that established by Hans. Vermeer. Based on Behaviorism theory and intercultural communication, skopostheorie believes that any human behavior has definite purpose, and so translation does. Translation is a complicated purposeful activity to realize human communications in the environment of cross-culture and cross-language. Skopostheorie points out that when the translators do translation action, they should focus on the expected functions of target text in target language and culture. This thesis is about the issues that exist in translation of cosmetic instruction with examples from the perspective of skopostheorie. As a kind of practical text, cosmetic instruction shows consumers the ingredients, product functions, usage, date and attention, and it is a special advertisement in some degrees. Cosmetic instruction serves as an informative text to fulfill the ultimate goal of attracting customers.

This thesis discusses the translation of cosmetic instructions: choose appropriate translation strategies in accordance with text functions of cosmetic instructions as well as skopostheorie’s three rules: skopos rule, coherence rule and fidelity rule.

Key words: skopostheorie; cosmetic instructions; text functions; translation strategies

Contents

摘要

Abstract

1 INTRODUCTION-1

2 LITERATURE REVIEW-3

    2.1 Overseas Research-3

    2.2 Domestic Research-4

3 SKOPOSTHEORIE’S PRINCIPLES IN TRANSLATION-6

  3.1 Skopos Rule-6

  3.2 Coherence Rule-7

  3.3 Fidelity Rule-8

4 EXPECTED FUNCTIONS OF COSMETIC INSTRUCTIONS-9

  4.1 Informative Function-9

  4.2 Aesthetic Function-12

  4.3 Appellative Function-14

5 CONCLUSION-17

REFERENCES-19

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS-20