literal
/ˈlɪt(ə)ɹəl/ noun C2- A misprint (or occasionally a scribal error) that affects a letter.
- An atomic formula (consisting of a propositional variable) or its negation.
- A value, as opposed to an identifier, written into the source code of a computer program.
Plural literals
From the library
If a fictional bear makes a joke about a honeycomb and combing his fur, a literal Spanish translation will sound completely absurd.
The translator must therefore abandon the literal meaning in favor of the comedic effect, searching the target language for a comparable, yet entirely different, joke.
It required a constant negotiation with ambiguity, a willingness to sacrifice the literal meaning to preserve the elusive melody of the original text.
A compromise was necessary, a deliberate choice to favor the emotional resonance over strict adherence to the literal dictionary definition.
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