Translation (n.) is an attempt to render the foreign familiar and preserve its very foreignness at one and the same time.
Translation (n.) is definitely a task, not in the sense of restricting but so that human action can simply continue.
Translation (n.) is re-creation of that work.
Translation (n.) is always only a somewhat provisional way of coming to terms with the foreignness of languages.
Translation (n.) is true: it does not obscure the original, does not stand in its light, but rather allows pure language, as if strengthened by its own medium, to shine even more fully on the original.
Translation (n.) is bad translation which intends to perform a transmitting function. Such tranlation cannot transmit anything but information - hence, something inessential.