Intertextuality and Cultural Realia in the Translation of Helen Fielding‘s Bridget Jones’s Diary into Lithuanian

The article focuses on problems related to translation of cultural realia which, in the context of intertextuality, is perceived as allusion endowed with culture-specific meaning. Drawing on Ritva Leppihalme‘s theoretical model, allusions are categorized as proper name (PN) allusions and key-phrase (KP) allusions. It is highlighted that translation of culture-specific content embedded in these intertextual links presupposes effective choice of translation strategies. Such a theoretical stance points to the significance of translation as intercultural communication which can be achieved by sensitive decoding of textual significations at both micro and macro levels. Yet, it is also stressed that translation strategies presented by Leppihalme are descriptive rather than prescriptive. Examples are provided to illustrate problems of transmitting cultural realia from the source text into the target text with regard to the translation of Helen Fielding‘s novel Bridget Jones’s Diary into Lithuanian. The reader’s role in the meaning making process is also consideredVytauto Didžiojo universiteta