This study explores theoretical aspects of translation in a relevance-based framework dealing with communication and cognition and investigates the feasibility of relevance theory, in the light of already existing translations of a legal text and a literary text, if the translators' practical work is involved. Although a number of investigations are available which either deal with aspects of communication and cognition or which focus on the transference of written and spoken material from one language to another, approaches combining whatever seems the best or the most useful from these two areas are still uncommon these days. Thus, on the one hand the present study is a plea for going beyond the more traditional compartmentalisations of linguistic areas; on the other hand, it serves as a repository of findings and insights for critical reflections on translation work in the future.

This study explores theoretical aspects of translation in a relevance-based framework dealing with communication and cognition and investigates the feasibility of relevance theory, in the light of already existing translations of a legal text and a literary text, if the translators' practical work is involved. Although a number of investigations are available which either deal with aspects of communication and cognition or which focus on the transference of written and spoken material from one language to another, approaches combining whatever seems the best or the most useful from these two areas are still uncommon these days. Thus, on the one hand the present study is a plea for going beyond the more traditional compartmentalisations of linguistic areas; on the other hand, it serves as a repository of findings and insights for critical reflections on translation work in the future.