What Distinguishes Major Types of Translation?

This paper attempts to justify the distinction between literary translation, Bible translation and non-literary translation on the basis of the different choices made by translators on a small number of parameters which determine distinct strategies for each major translation type. The parameters discussed are: the situational antecedents for the new translation in the target culture; the availability of suitable document types in the target culture; the purpose of the target document, especially when seen from the point of view of the source document: the relative status of the target document in relation to the source document; the degree of awareness the target readership should be given of the fact that they are reading a translation; the availability of textual models in the target language and the appropriateness and extent of their use. The particular features which justify treating literary translation as a separate category are examined in some detail towards the end of the article.