ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the conditions necessary in order to conduct a reflection on the problems of translating and translation. It reviews some of the guiding principles which have been at work in the conceptions proposed to account for these phenomena. It is not our intention to analyse extensively all or even some of the translation approaches put forward by other theorists. The task would be both futile and self-defeating not to mention unrelated to our immediate purpose. According to Steiner, the role of translation is determining in this process of cultural cross-determination, since 'In translation the dialectic of unison and of plurality is dramatically at work'. Translation can only be described as a hermeneutic process of interlinguistic production. Translations are thus perfectible, but this process cannot be effected through systematization or the correct application of translation techniques. The Variational representation of the translation process corresponds to a complete change in model conception.
