Functional contradictions of translation in sociocultural practices

The article considers the functions of translation in intercultural, interlinguistic forms of communication, and in the system of social relations. Postcolonial optics allows us to consider the functionality of translation in terms of linguistic incommensurability. Intercultural communication demonstrates the differentiating function of translation. Considering the effect of translation in the system of social ties, we trace the opposite function of translation: the possibility of building a single communicative space with a difference in the interests of the participants in communication. The inconsistency of translation functions lies in the fact that, on the one hand, translation facilitates interaction, and, on the other hand, it functions as a border separating the participants in the communication process. Nevertheless, the multidirectionality of translation functions contributes to the preservation of the possibility of communication itself both in the conditions of inter-lingual communication, and within one language.