Doslovnost

Doslovnost is a term used in Czech and Slovak linguistics and translation studies to denote literalness in language. It refers to the quality or practice of reproducing a text in a way that preserves the exact wording, phrasing, and syntactic structure of the source, often at the expense of naturalness in the target language. The noun derives from doslovný, meaning literal or verbatim, with the adverb doslovně.

In translation theory, doslovnost is contrasted with free translation or dynamic equivalence, which prioritize conveying meaning, sense, or effect over exact words. Doslovnost can be valued for philological precision, reproducibility, and scholarly rigor, but may hinder readability, cultural transfer, and stylistic coherence. It is commonly discussed in relation to literary translation, historical documents, and legal or technical texts where exact wording matters.

Practically, translators may aim for a spectrum from strict doslovnost to adaptive translation, choosing a level appropriate to purpose, audience, and genre. Idioms, cultural references, and rhetorical devices often suffer under strict literal rendering, illustrating why many translations seek a balance rather than a pure doslovnost. In poetry and prose with distinctive voice, excessive literalness can obscure cadence and effect.

See also: doslovný překlad, překladatelská praxe, interpretativní překlad, dynamic equivalence, paraphrase.