A REFLECTION ON THE ROLES OF A TRANSLATOR AS A CULTURAL MEDIATOR IN LITERARY TRANSLATION

Literary translation involves more than the transfer of words from one language to another; it requires the translator to function as a mediator between cultures. This study reflects on the various roles a translator plays as a cultural mediator in literary translation and examines how these roles influence the interpretation and reception of literary texts across cultural boundaries. The problem addressed in this study is that literary translation is often perceived primarily as a linguistic activity, which overlooks the complex cultural responsibilities translators undertake when conveying culturally embedded meanings. The objectives of the study are to identify and analyse the diverse roles translators perform in literary translation and to highlight the importance of cultural competence in the translation process. The study adopts a qualitative and descriptive approach, drawing on theoretical discussions in translation studies and illustrative examples from literary works to examine how translators interpret cultural references, negotiate meaning, and adapt stylistic features for target audiences. The findings reveal that translators perform multiple roles, including interpreters of cultural meaning, negotiators between source and target cultures, preservers of cultural identity, creative adapters of stylistic features, and ethical mediators responsible for representing cultures accurately. These roles demonstrate that literary translation is an interpretive and culturally sensitive practice rather than a purely mechanical process. The study concludes that recognizing translators as cultural mediators enhances our understanding of the intellectual and creative contributions they make to global literary exchange. It therefore recommends that translators develop strong cultural awareness, contextual knowledge, and ethical sensitivity in order to effectively mediate between cultures and preserve the richness of literary texts in translation.