Functionalism in Literary Translation. The Use of a Functionalist Approach in Translating Contemporary Swiss-German Poetry

The paper explores the potential of a functionalist approach in interlingual translations of literary texts. The theoretical perspective is provided by Christiane Nord’s introduction to the theory and methodology of translation-oriented ST analysis. The viewpoint refers to the concept of translation as an action, that is, as an intercultural communicative act with the ST functioning as an offer of information, and with which the translator must always reckon. The paper describes the main steps of the translation process as formulated in Nord’s model, by illustrating the linguistic choices of the Italian translation of poems by German-Swiss writer Werner Lutz. Lutz’s poetic language is examined through the presentation of the main translation problems as outlined by Nord. Focus is on the intra-textual factors of the ST, specifically on lexis (word creations) and (cultural) presuppositions, which thoroughly engage and challenge the Italian translator.