Meanings
skopos1
- uncountablehuman sciencesThe function of a written or spoken text, especially in the context of translating and interpreting.
[A]s with the skopos approach, a translator can have some idea of the intended effect, and translate accordingly, i.e. in a maximally relevant way.
2005, Andrew Chesterman, edited by Martha Tennent, Training For The New Millennium, John Benjamins Publishing Co, page 1961 more example
The topic of the novel is the typical way of life of the well-to-do British middle and upper classes, and the setting within the British culture is thus of great importance. The Skopos, to use Vermeer's term, is to translate the text as being firmly embedded within the British culture.
1995, Paul Kussmaul, Training The Translator, John Benjamins Publishing Co, page 68
Skopos2
- uncountableAlternative letter-case form of skopos.
Origin
- Ancient Greekσκοπός
- Englishskopos
From Ancient Greek σκοπός (skopós).
More words from Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 目的, 功能
- 目的 (mùdì)function of a text in translating and interpreting
- 功能 (gōngnéng)function of a text in translating and interpreting
Finnish tarkoitus, skopos
- tarkoitusfunction of a text in translating and interpreting
- skoposfunction of a text in translating and interpreting
Cite this entry
skopos. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/skopos
“skopos.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/skopos. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “skopos,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/skopos.
Source: skopos on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.