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Abstract
The idea of equivalence has been one of the core worries in translation studies for quite a few decades, so long story short, scholars still keep turning it around. People argue about whether a translation should stay really near to the source text, or if it should be adapted so it fits the expectations of brand new readers. And this kind of discussion matters even more with literary translation because language there often brings along cultural weight, emotional tone, and artistic meanings too, not just “content” in a dry way. This article looks at the link between equivalence and purpose, using Hans J. Vermeer’s Skopos Theory as the main lens. By taking multiple English versions of Don Quixote as examples, it suggests that translation decisions tend to be guided by purpose and audience, more than by one fixed interpretation of equivalence.
References
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