The translator as a conveyor of meaning and culture: between fidelity, adaptation and responsibility

Abstract

This article examines the translator’s role as a conveyor of meaning and culture, emphasising the complex balance between fidelity, adaptation and ethical responsibility. Translation is approached not as a mechanical transfer of linguistic signs, but as a creative and interpretative practice through which cultural references, stylistic features, emotions and symbolic meanings are recreated in the target language. Drawing on major contributions from translation studies and examples from the works of Naguib Mahfouz, the article analyses the challenges associated with culturally specific terms, intertextual references, literary style and the preservation of the author’s voice. It also highlights the ethical implications of translation choices, since omissions, explanations and adaptations can influence the target reader’s perception of both the original text and its culture. The discussion demonstrates that the translator functions as an intercultural mediator and guardian of textual integrity, responsible for reconciling readability with respect for cultural otherness. In the context of globalisation and the increasing use of machine translation, the article concludes that human translators remain essential for conveying cultural nuances, emotional depth and stylistic complexity, thereby promoting intercultural dialogue and the international circulation of knowledge.

Keywords: Literary translation; intercultural mediation; cultural transfer; fidelity; adaptation; translator ethics; stylistic fidelity; human translation.

Received Date: February 22, 2026

Accepted Date: March 14, 2026

Published Date: April 02, 2026

Available Online at: https://www.ijsrisjournal.com/index.php/ojsfiles/article/view/758