Lakhasly

Skopos dictates or determines translation and its strategies The dominant element in translation is not the translator, is not the source text, is not the audience, the dominant factor or element is the purpose of the translation.It used to be the dominant factor dictating or determining the translation.Thus, Vermeer dethrones the source text.Prior to that theory, the source text was the king in all translation theories.With the skopos theory, the source text was removed from the throne.This theory proposes that a translation is designed to achieve a purpose.The purpose of the translation is seen as independent from the purpose of source text.Instead of king or queen source text, we have king or queen purpose.

Skopos dictates or determines translation and its strategies
The dominant element in translation is not the translator, is not the source text, is not the audience, the dominant factor or element is the purpose of the translation. Thus, Vermeer dethrones the source text. Prior to that theory, the source text was the king in all translation theories. It used to be the dominant factor dictating or determining the translation. With the skopos theory, the source text was removed from the throne. Instead of king or queen source text, we have king or queen purpose.
This theory proposes that a translation is designed to achieve a purpose. The purpose of the translation is seen as independent from the purpose of source text. Equivalence means “same function”, but most TTs have a new function for a new client and for a new receiver (on the target side).
Skopos as the Key to a New Translation Paradigm:
Skopos theory is one of the most important and well-known theories within the functionalist approach in translation studies. It has been developed in Germany in the late 1970s. It is based on the action theory which states that every action –including translation action- has a purpose; and hence comes the term Skopos, borrowed from the Greek, which means purpose, aim, or objective. Furthermore, the Skopos theory underscores the importance of the contextual factors associated with the translation process such as the culture of the target audience, the initiator (commissioner) of the translation, and the new intended function of the source text in the target culture whereby the Skopos theory predominately focuses on the function of the source text in the new target culture.
Based on the importance of the target text function, the purpose (Skopos) of the target text becomes the most important factor that determines the translation strategies and techniques the translator applies to fulfill the intended Skopos of the new target text. This means that the same source text can be translated in different ways by using different translation strategies and methods as long as the Skopos of the translation is not the same. That is confirmed by Vermeer when he argues that the function of the target text may differ from that of the source text.