At present, many scholars in translation field paid more and more attention to English translation of Chinese dishes. However, many corresponding studies are basically focused on the translation of dishes’ names, which is not enough to realize the purpose of spreading diet culture. Therefore, it is necessary to study the translation of Chinese dishes text, which has not arouse enough attention in translation studies yet. So this paper will focus on the translation of Chinese dishes names from the perspective of functional translation theory and explore the characteristics and English translation strategies of Chinese dishes.

II. The Overview of Skopos Theory

Since ancient times, people have been exploring and studying the problems in translation. Different cultural backgrounds and ideas give birth to different translation theories and corresponding schools. Different schools argued between literal translation and free translation, equivalence and non equivalence, domestication and foreignization and other issues. These controversies continuously depended and developed translation researches. German functionalist Skopos theory exactly experienced a long period of development and evolution.

2.1 The Origin and Development of Skopos Theory

As one of the most influential translation theories in the world today. Functionalist Skopos theory was pointed out in 1970s and still in constant revision and development. It has experienced four stages of development, represented by Reiss Hans, J. Vemeer Justa, Holz-Manttari Katharina and Nord Christiane relatively, whose translationthoughts showed some differences. Therefore, it is necessary for us to study their main ideas thoroughly and summarize the common characteristics of the representative theories of those figures and the differences between them.

Katharina Reiss’ translation studies mainly have two stages. In the first stage, she put forward the prototype of functionalist theory and put forward questions about text function and translation strategies. Her researches were based on equivalence, but she extended the communication and equivalence theory from the sentence level to the textual level. In the second stage, she revised the functionalist category and no longer took functional equivalence for the default target and conventional standard. Thus, the analysis of the text type is no longer a decisive criterion for choosing translation strategies. This theory has great influence on her student Vermeer, who latter put forward the core of functionalist theory —Skopos Theory.

Hans J. Vermeer, one of the founders of functionalist Skopos theory, has been the leader of the German translation theory for many years, and also an outstanding linguist. Vermeer pointed out that translation is a purposeful human communication action. He believes that translation is a kind of cross cultural transformation, if the translator cannot master several cultures, at least he should be proficient in two cultures.

Vermeer also puts forward three translation principles, Skopos principle, coherence principle and fidelity principle.

Justa Holz Manttari put forward translation action theory in 1981, and then published Translatorisches Handeln: Theorie und Method in 1984 officially. She pointed out the functional orientation of translation theory and practice. Manttari distinguished translation from the concept of translation action, and expands the scope of translation theory. At the same time, she made the standard of translation evaluation more tolerant and open, and closer to the reality. Manttari’s translation action theory focuses on translator's autonomy and subjectivity. But unfortunately, Manttari confined to the technical level of the text creation, and had not considered the impact of cultural differences on translation in detail.

Text Analysis on translation of Christiance Nord is a further improvement of Skopos theory. She found Skopos theory have two defects, one is Skopos theory emphasizes that the function of the target text is determined by the translation purposes. The second defect is the neglect of regulating the translator. Thus Nord put forward the principle of loyalty. Translators should respect the cultural orientation of the target reader instead of that catering to purpose and respecting the original author. As an important part of translational action, the translator should try to harmonize the relationship between the original author and the initiator.