Translator as Cultural Mediator in Literary Translation

Abstract

This paper studies the translation of cultural elements in literary texts. It determines what we mean by these elements, the role they play in literary texts and how they participate in making literary style. It explains the method the translator should follow to translate the elements from one language to another, by shedding light on the results of literal translation and translation oriented to the receiver and his culture, taking into account similarities and differences that exist between cultural elements. Then, we explain the decisions the translator should take: to be targetoriented, source-oriented translator or use both methods at the same time. In this later case, we’ll  show how cultural mediation is done through translation.