Though the basic characteristics of translation can be observed in all translation events we should single out different types of translation depending on the predominant communicative function of the ST or the form of speech involved in the translation process – communicative classification of translation. In consistence with the communicative classification of translations we may distinguish between literary and informative translation on the one hand, and between written and oral translation (or interpretation), on the other hand.
Literary translation deals with literary texts, i.e. works of fiction or poetry; their main function is to produce an emotional or aesthetic impression upon the reader. Their communicative value depends, first and foremost, on their artistic quality and the translator’s primary task is to reproduce this quality in the translation.
Informative translation deals with rendering into the TL nonliterary texts, the main purpose of which is to convey a certain amount of ideas, to inform the reader. We should bear in mind that sometimes this classifications is very approximate since a literary text may in fact include some parts of purely informative character and informative translation may comprise some elements aimed at achieving an aesthetic effect.
