Abstract
The language function is one of the criteria for dividing translated texts into literary and non-literary ones. The latter are supposedly acultural, i.e. free from cultural and intertextual references. Such an approach may lead to translation errors. Translators who focus entirely on that branch of knowledge that a given text refers to and on related terminology may overlook cultural and intertextual elements. Th is not only ignores the intention of introducing them into the text, but also changes the meaning of passages in which they are included. The analysis of two books concerning psychology and psychotherapy: Systems of Psychotherapy. A Transtheoretical Analysis and Personality Disorders in Modern Life provides ample examples of introducing implicit references to the Bible and literary masterpieces into psychological discourse. Despite the label of scientific texts, American psychological literature is characterized by numerous hidden quotations from other sources, thus becoming deeply rooted in the intertextual space, in order to allow readers to imagine psychic conditions described. Consequently, in translating such texts, translators cannot limit themselves to a thorough knowledge of psychology, psychotherapy and terminology connected with those areas, but must also be observant enough to notice intertextual traces and then be able to localize them and interpret them correctly. Otherwise the translation may alter the original meaning or introduce ambiguity which is not welcome in such texts.This paper analyses selected examples of intertextuality in psychological literature and their translations. In each case, editorial intervention was required since the lack of recognition of such elements or their incorrect interpretation resulted in various types of translation errors. The conclusion off ered from this discussion is that translators must bear in mind that all texts are of a hybrid nature, and a narrow specialized approach may not guarantee an error-free translation.
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