Beyond Words: Bridging Cultural and Linguistic Boundaries. A Translation proposal of Juli Zeh’s 'Über Menschen’.

Abstract: The purpose of this work is to present the translation of two chapters from Juli Zeh's Über Menschen followed by an analysis of the novel’s literary features and its main themes. Chapter one briefly outlines the author’s career, her political and social engagement and the role her writing plays in the contemporary German literary scene. The second chapter touches upon the novel’s plot and the socio-political circumstances after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The chapter also explores Zeh's interest for themes such as human connection, social divide, and the difference between metropolitan and rural lifestyles. Chapter three discusses the author’s unique writing style and the role of the translator as a cultural mediator. Moreover, it delineates the translation methodology and strategies employed, highlighting the challenges encountered and their respective solutions. The following translation work is a small step towards making Juli Zeh's literature accessible to the Italian readership, while at the same time reflecting on the interplay between language, culture and the translator’s role in bridging these realms.