investigating skopos theory from the perspective of luhmann's theory of social systems

skopos theory ,as a functionalist approach, has made a notable switch from a lingusitic oriented to a more sociocultural concept of translation. initially proposed by vermeer, skopos theory framework has been applied by several researchers in their attempts to defend translators’ dignity and social status. yet; as far as the authors are concerned, no researcher has ever employed sociological theories for supporting skopos theory and raising translators’ social status. this article aims at comparative investigation of skopos theory from the perspective of luhmann's theory of social systems. in this regard, skopos theory’s presumptions and the critical statements for and against it are reviewed. then, luhmann's theory of social systems and its key concepts are explained. in the third step, the bonds of the two theories are investigated and translation subsystem and its cooperation with other social subsystems are analyzed. finally, luhmann’s theory is implemented to support skopos theory and to depict a different portrait of translators and their status. according to our studies, translation is not only a self-referring, external referring and distinct subsystem but also holds structural coupling, operative closure and currency. in this regard, translator’s obligation to fulfill the needs and expectations of his/her readers and those of the target society’s different subsystems must not be regarded as sign of his/her low social status. rather, translator’s obligation must be analyzed in terms of the translation subsystem’s role and its cooperation with other social systems. as a social system, translation is obliged to connect different languages and cultures. based on the perspective and assumptions proposed in the luhmann’s theory of social systems, skopos theory is substantiated and translation’s