Translating Cultural Identity: Skopos Theory in the Translation of Abdullah Al Faisal's “Revolution of Doubts”

Abstract

This paper presents an in-depth analysis of the application of the Skopos Theory of translation to Abdullah Al Faisal's poetic work, "Revolution of Doubt." The Skopos Theory, developed by Vermeer, emphasizes the importance of the translator's purpose or intention (skopos) in guiding the translation process. By considering the skopos as the driving force behind translation, this theory highlights the need to adapt and shape the target text to meet the specific communicative purpose in the target culture. The study examines the fidelity, coherence, and skopos rules of the Skopos Theory in relation to the translation of "Revolution of Doubt." Through a detailed analysis of selected lines and their English translation, the paper explores how these rules are applied and their impact on maintaining the intended meaning, poetic style, and emotional resonance of the original Arabic text. In terms of fidelity, the analysis focuses on the level of faithfulness to the source text in conveying meaning and tone. The coherence rule is examined to assess the structural and semantic coherence within individual lines and the overall flow of the translated text. Finally, the skopos rule is explored to understand how the translator's purpose and intended audience influence the translation choices, particularly in capturing the emotional and poetic aspects of the source text. By investigating the application of the Skopos Theory to the translation of "Revolution of Doubt," this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the dynamics and challenges involved in translating poetic works. It sheds light on the importance of considering the translator's intention, maintaining coherence, and achieving fidelity in conveying the essence of the original text to the target audience.