ABSTRACT
The notion of translation features widely in a variety of disciplines, but it is also well known outside of academia as a concept that can be applied in a wide range of societal contexts. The phrase fictional turn, first coined by Else Vieira, denotes an approach that explores how fictional representations of translators and interpreters can contribute to theoretical understanding of translation phenomena. The fictionalization of translators and interpreters as a source of information for academic analysis touches directly upon the conflict described by Walter Benjamin to the extent that works of fiction portray translation phenomena from a point of view that is always subjective, whereas the scientific method is considered objective and non-judgemental. The resulting identity constructs of fictional translators and interpreters are explored in a variety of studies that draw on imagological concepts, as well as methods from literary studies, such as close reading.
