Translation of religious and theological texts – subject matter, specificity, and selected translation challenges

Abstract

The article is theoretical in nature and addresses the issue of complexity and specificity of religious and theological translation. This translation is not only an important element of cultural exchange, but also an important economic factor. It is characterized by multi-genre and hybridity. The vocabulary used in it oscillates between professional terminology and colloquialisms, and the tendency to use a high, hieratic style competes with the inclination to use colloquialisms and reach for the colloquial style. In connection with this, the issue of the sacred function of the word and the profanation of language is raised. The optimum seems to be a language rooted in the past and taking into account contemporary sensitivity, postulated by Miłosz, constituting an antidote to the "intelligentsia-journalistic jargon". In religious and theological translation, a number of challenges appear for the translator, starting from terminological issues through inculturation to intertextuality. The article discusses the requirements placed on theological translations and their translators, presents the most important genres in this area, ranging from translations of sacred and liturgical texts to epistolary literature and literary texts, and also addresses the issue of oral translations, both professional and community. Both different cultural contexts and confessionalism can be difficult. The important role of cooperation between the translator and specialists is also indicated.