LITERAL VS. FREE TRANSLATION METHODS ON THE BASIS OF TWO EIGHTEENTH CENTURY RENDITIONS

The article aims at presenting literal and word-for-word translation method in “The Pilgrim's Progress” by John Bunyan and its Polish translation entitled „Droga pielgrzymującego Chrześcijanina do wieczności błogosławionej” by Stefan Cedrowski (1764). As a contrast to faithful method, free translation strategy is demonstrated based on “Poor Richard's Almanack” by Benjamin Franklin and its anonymous translation entitled „Rada poczciwego Ryszarda jak żyć na świecie” (1793). The theoretical scope of the paper encompasses definitions of literal and free methods, as well as brief etymology of those concepts. Additionally, it takes into account the eighteenth century translation theories as to which methods were recommended by writers and translators of the Enlightenment Age. The practical part of the work focuses on the analysis of relevant samples of authentic texts in order to examine occurrence of the mentioned methods. The findings are juxtaposed and scrutinized comparatively. Finally, conclusions are drawn