The Intertextuality of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld as a Major Challenge for the Translator

For the translator, intertexts are among chief problems posed by the source text. Often unmarked typographically, direct or altered, not necessarily well-known and sometimes intersemiotic, quotations and references to other writings and culture texts call for erudition and careful handling, so that readers of the translation stand a chance of spotting them, too.

For the reader, the rich intertextuality of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series is among its trademark features. Consequently, it should not be missed in translations whose success thus depends significantly on the quality of translation of the intertexts which, as is highlighted here, cover a vast and varied range of types of original texts.

The book focuses on how to deal with Pratchett’s intertexts: how to track them down, analyse their role, predict obstacles to their effective translation, and suggest translation solutions—complete with a discussion of the translation of selected intertextual fragments in the Polish version, Swiat Dysku, a concise overview of intertextual theories, and an assessment of the translator’s work.