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In:Intralingual Translation: Beyond language and text
Edited by Hilla Karas and Hava Bat-Zeev Shyldkrot
[Benjamins Translation Library 168] 2026
► pp. 118–142

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Comparing micro-strategies in interlingual translation and plain language intralingual translation

An empirical study

ORCiD logo with link | Ionian UniversityCorfu
Published online: 20 February 2026
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/btl.168.06see
Abstract
This article aims to investigate the use of micro-strategies in interlingual translation and plain language intralingual translation. It will be qualitatively scrutinized to determine the extent to which similarities and, more importantly, differences in the use of micro-strategies can be found in both translational actions, and how this reflects on translational creativity. To accomplish this, Reiß’s and Vermeer’s (1984/1991) seminal translation studies monograph Grundlegung einer allgemeinen Translationstheorie will serve as the source text for both types of transfer. Methodologically, this will be achieved through a contrastive analysis of the German-Greek interlingual translation (Reiß and Vermeer, 2021), as well as a plain language Greek intralingual translation of specific source text passages. This analysis will primarily employ Schjoldager et al.’s (2008) inventory of translational micro-strategies, while also considering other relevant resources. The findings reveal qualitative similarities but also significant qualitative and quantitative differences in the use of micro-strategies between interlingual translation and plain language intralingual translation. The latter demonstrates a higher degree of translational creativity.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.A few words on PL INTRAT
  • 3.INTERT micro-strategies
  • 4.INTERT and PL INTRAT micro-strategies in contrast
    • 4.1Example 1
      • 4.1.1INTERT
      • 4.1.2PL INTRAT
    • 4.2Example 2
      • 4.2.1INTERT
      • 4.2.2PL INTRAT
    • 4.3Example 3
      • 4.3.1INTERT
      • 4.3.2PL INTRAT
    • 4.4Evaluation of the results
  • 5.Conclusions
  • Notes
  • References
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