The application of register theory in the translation of Cypriot folk tales into English

Chrystalla Thoma

This thesis explores the combinability of Halliday’s Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) and Skopos theory of translation. It attempts to show that the combination of SFL and Skopos theory is successful in ameliorating both the theory and the practice of translation. The proof for this position is sought in the contrastive linguistic and context analysis of Greek Cypriot and English folktales. The findings are utilised in practical examples in order to illustrate and explicitate their application to translation. This thesis proposes that SFL allows the translator to seek equivalent or quasi-equivalent structures in the source and target languages and provide insights into the original intention of the source texts. SFL allows the translator several choices of translation which would otherwise remain hidden.

This research will seek to establish beyond any doubt that the combination of Functional linguistics with Skopos theory can offer insights highly significant for translation science.

We also purport to offer evidence to supplement other studies of narrative concerning the idea that the narrative-non narrative distinction takes place on a level higher than register and genre. Furthermore, we intend to show that the number of similar structures shared by English and Greek narratives are due to their inclusion in the ‘narrative’ category and in particular to the same genre, but that they also present differences due to language, context, and register disparities. Finally, we posit that the language of the written narrative reflects its historical journey. The language of oral narrative reflects history and culture at the time of their recording.