Functionalism: the translation process is guided by extra-linguistic factors Texts are embedded in situations or contexts that consist of non-linguistic elements, which determine linguistic form and are reflected in the text: situational features

Situational features: Function—the purpose the text is meant to accomplish Audience—the readers to whom the text is addressed (including the characteristics of those readers) Medium—physical shape of the text: oral, written, mixed-media and medium-related restrictions Motive—the reason for the production of the text Time—intended time of reception Place—intended place of reception

„…Many Western languages, such as Spanish and German, tend to have much longer, more syntactically complex sentences in formal, academic texts than would be found in American English.”

The situational features defined for the target text are normally referred to as the translation brief or translation instructions Who is this translation for? What is the readers’ emotional level? What age are they, and what are their cultural beliefs? What do they know about the context of the text? What is the purpose of having the text translated? Is it to inform, to educate, to collect informaton, or perhaps to fulfill a legal requirement?

How do you translate „X” into „Y”? Very often the answer is: it depends. It depends on the extra-linguistic features of the target text.

„One cannot assume from the outset that the translation’s extra-linguistic factors will be the same as those of the source text…the best source for this information is of course the commissioner of the translation…”