文本功能和分类

2．4Text CIassificationOne of the most important theories in the book Groundworkfor a General Theoryof Translation coauthored by Reiss and V ermeer is Reiss’theory of text types．According to Reiss，text typology helps the translator specify the appropriate hierarchy of equivalence levels needed for a particular translation Skopos．Based on the dominant communicative functions，texts are categorized into informative texts，expressive texts and operative texts．The main function of informative texts is to inform the readers about objects and Phenomena in the real world．The choices of linguistic and stylistic forms are subordinate tO this function．In a translation where both the source text and the target text are informative,the translator should attempt to represent the original text correctly and completely．The translator should be guided by the dominant norms of the target language and culture in terms of stylistic choices．In a more recent description of her typology,geiss points out that the informative texts alsoinclude‘‘purely phatic communication,where the actual information value is zero and the message is the communication process itself’(Reiss,qtd．in Nord，2001：38)．Expressive texts can produce an aesthetic feeling on the reader and this effect has to be taken into account in translation．In such texts，the informative aspect is complemented or even overruled by the aesthetic aspects．If the target text is aimed to fall into the same category as the source text，the translator of an expressive text should manage to produce an analogous stylistic effect as the original．In operative texts，“both content and form are subordinate to the extralinguistic effect that the text is designed to achieve”(Nord，2001：38)．Ifthetarget text is meant to belong to the same category,the translator of an operative text should attempt to bring the same reaction in the target audience regardless of changing the content and／or stylistic features of the original．2.2Text FunctionsRelated to the text type is the text function．Nord suggests four types of textfunctions：referential function；expressive function；appellative function and phatic function．The referential function iS similar to the function of the informative text．The referential function is mainly expressed by the denotative value of the lexical items inthe text．IIl orderto make the referential function clear,the translator should coordinatethe message with the model of the particular world involved which is determined byCultural perspectives and traditions．As have mentioned above，according to Reiss’S text typology,the expressive function is restricted to the aesthetic aspects of literary or poetic texts．Differently,the expressive function in Nord’S model refers to the sender’Sattitude toward the objects and phenomena of the world．One point should be givenmore attention is that the expressive function is sender-oriented．The sender’S opinionsand attitudes are based on the value system of his own culture．hl interculturalinteraction,if the source culture and the target culture are different，then problem willarise．For example，“hl India if a man compares the eyes of his wife to those of a cow,he expressed admiration for their beauty．In Germany,though,a woman would not bevery pleased if her husband did the same”(Nord,2001：42)．Appellative function meansthe Use of language to make the receiver feel to do something．Here the appellative corresponds with operative in Reiss’S typology．Different from the expressive function, Appellative function is receiver-oriented．“While the source text normally appeals to asource-culture reader’S susceptibility and experience，the appellative function of a translation isbound to have a different target．This means the appellative function will not work if the receiver cannot cooperate'’(Nord ,001：43)．So when translating this kind of text，the translator should pay much more attention to the different cultures and traditions ofthe target readers in order to achievethe same reaction in the receivers．The phatic function means establishing,maintaining or ending contact between senders and receivers．It depends on the conventionality of the linguistic,non-linguistic andparalinguistic means used in a particular situation．In all，the text types and the text functions play important roles in the translation process．It can help translators have a better understanding of the source text and render a satisfactory target text．And it makes good Sense to clarify the intended communicative function ofthe target text which call serve as a guideline for translation．。