The focus of this paper lies on the translatability of a literary work of art. The
phenomenon is approached as a conceptual challenge subsumed under the
question Can the identity of a literary work of art be retained when the work is
translated? Since the question of translatability as posed here belongs to the
realm of philosophy of art, the problematic nature of ‘original’, ‘translation’ and
‘identity’ is discussed first in the theoretical context of analytic philosophy. I
then consider the issue within the framework of Translation Studies. By showing
the definitional diversity the necessity of contextual embedding and theoretical
explicitness is highlighted. A genuine exchange of ideas and views, between and
within disciplines, presupposes conceptual transparency.

Keywords: literary translation, identity of a literary work of art, translatability,
analytic philosophy of art, “Pierre Menard”