Diese Studie basiert auf der Annahme, dass sprachliche Abweichungen in literarischen Übersetzungen nicht immer als Fehler, sondern mitunter auch als kreative Elemente betrachtet werden sollten, die die Funktionalität und die ästhetische Kohärenz des Zieltextes stärken. [Nicht jede Abweichung erzeugt notwendigerweise eine funktionale Wirkung im Zieltext; doch bewusst gewählte Abweichungen des Übersetzers können die Bedeutung, Lesbarkeit und ästhetische Geschlossenheit des Textes erheblich verstärken. Vor diesem Hintergrund untersucht die Studie die in der türkischen Übersetzung von Stefan Zweigs Schachnovelle (Übersetzer: Selçuk Ünlü) festgestellten orthografischen, stilistischen, semantischen und syntaktischen Abweichungen. Ziel der Untersuchung ist es, aufzuzeigen, inwiefern diese Abweichungen mit den interpretativen, bewussten und kulturell motivierten Entscheidungen des Übersetzers verknüpft sind und wie sie die stilistische und funktionale Kohärenz des Textes transformieren. Als Methode wurde die vergleichende Textanalyse gewählt; der Analyseprozess orientiert sich am funktionalen Ansatz von Reiß und beruht auf der Bewertung der Abweichungen im Kontext der Zielkultur, ihrer Diskursmuster und Leser*innenerwartungen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass der Übersetzer die langen und verschachtelten Satzstrukturen des deutschen Ausgangstextes durch Anpassung an die natürliche Syntax des Türkischen vereinfacht, formale Elemente gemäß den Rechtschreibnormen der Zielsprache umgestaltet und kulturelle Referenzen an die Wahrnehmung des türkischen Lesepublikums angepasst hat. Diese Eingriffe stellen keine bloß technischen Übertragungen dar, sondern bewusste Entscheidungen, die auf dem Neuaufbau von Bedeutung, Stil und Erzählrhythmus beruhen. Folglich werden die in der Übersetzung von Schachnovelle festgestellten Abweichungen als funktionale und kreative Anpassungen bewertet, die die Bedeutungstiefe, das Erzähltempo und die ästhetische Harmonie des Zieltextes intensivieren. Im Lichte dieser Befunde positioniert die Studie die literarische Übersetzung als einen vielschichtigen schöpferischen Prozess, in dem kulturelle Bedeutungsproduktion über sprachliche Äquivalenz hinausgeht, und rückt zugleich die Kreativität des Übersetzers ins Zentrum der Übersetzungskritik.

This study is grounded in the assumption that translational deviations observed in literary translation should not invariably be regarded as errors, but may, in certain contexts, function as deliberate and creative adjustments that enhance the functionality, readability, and aesthetic integrity of the target text. Translation, rather than being a mere act of textual transfer, constitutes a multilayered creative process in which meaning, expression, and cultural signifiers are re-produced and re-contextualised within the target culture. “Deviation” thus denotes a degree of divergence from the source text without necessarily implying error. The translator may intentionally depart from the formal structure of the source text to reshape it according to the syntactic and semantic requirements of the target language. When viewed through the norms and communicative expectations of the target culture, such reformulation represents a creative intervention.

The study analyses translational deviations in a Turkish translation of The Chess Story (Schachnovelle) by Stefan Zweig to reveal how they relate to the translator’s interpretive decisions and the communicative requirements of the target culture. Deviations are classified into four analytical levels—orthographic, stylistic, semantic, and syntactic. Examples from each level illustrate how the translator’s creative engagement reconstructs the coherence and integrity of the target text, showing that translational choices shape not only transfer but also meaning, structure, and overall effect. These examples also demonstrate that the translator operates within a functional framework where each intervention serves a specific textual purpose rather than representing random variation. In this sense, the study highlights the translator’s agency as a mediating force that redefines the aesthetic and communicative balance between the source and target texts.

Literary translation is inherently multidimensional: the translator reproduces meaning not merely through lexical equivalents but by re-creating it in light of cultural and aesthetic contexts. Deviation therefore emerges as a conscious choice. While some differences stem from structural contrasts between languages, purposeful adjustments aligned with the target language’s norms enhance clarity, rhythm, and emotional resonance. The translator focuses less on preserving the source form than on sustaining its communicative function through the expressive resources of the target language. Each deviation becomes an indicator of this decision-making process. Acting with sensitivity to target-culture conventions and reader expectations, the translator reconstructs the semantic depth, stylistic balance, and narrative flow of the text.

Methodologically, the study employs comparative text analysis between the German source text and its Turkish translation. Sentence-level deviations serve as the main units of comparison. Three representative examples from each type of deviation were examined to determine how the translator’s choices contribute to the functional interaction between source and target texts. The goal was not to quantify deviations but to explain their effect on meaning and textual function, thereby making the translator’s deliberate interventions visible. The data reveal that the translator simplified long and complex German sentences by adapting them to Turkish syntax, enhancing narrative rhythm and fluency. Orthographic adjustments—such as quotation marks, punctuation, and dialogue layout—were aligned with Turkish writing conventions, improving visual coherence. Stylistically, inner monologues and descriptions were re-shaped to fit Turkish expressive patterns, clarifying character psychology. Semantically, abstract concepts were rendered more concrete to increase accessibility, while syntactic restructuring through sentence division ensured smoother narration. These interventions reveal the translator’s effort to balance textual naturalness with functional fidelity.

The findings further indicate that the translator’s relation to the source text extends beyond formal transfer to a restructuring process aimed at maintaining functional coherence. The translator reshapes semantic, stylistic, and structural components of the source text within the discursive framework of the target culture. Translation thus operates as an interpretive act in which deviations expose the ways meaning is re-created in the receiving culture. Ultimately, the study argues that deviations in literary translation can emerge not as deficiencies but as functional necessities. By preserving the essential sense of the source text while adapting it to the natural flow of the target language, the translator transforms translation from a neutral transfer process into a site of cultural re-creation. Translation is therefore a continuous negotiation between fidelity and creativity. The translator bears dual responsibility—to the source text and to the expectations of the target culture—requiring deliberate, function-oriented decision-making.

In conclusion, the orthographic, stylistic, semantic, and syntactic deviations identified in the Turkish translation of Schachnovelle can be interpreted as deliberate interventions that maintain the functionality, readability, and aesthetic coherence of the target text. These findings demonstrate that literary translation is not a simple transfer between languages but a creative process through which meaning and expression are re-produced in accordance with the target culture’s discursive dynamics. In this regard, the study demonstrates that the translator’s creative interventions may play a decisive role in textual transformation and offers a perspective that can contribute to interpretive discussions on literary translation. Future research conducted on different texts may further clarify the scope and applicability of this approach.