The Seventh International Conference on Languages, Linguistics, Translation and Literature (WWW.LLLD.IR), 11-12 June 2022, Ahwaz, Book of Articles, Volume Two 28 The Theme of Social Injustice in the Polish Translation of Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens Dr. Agnieszka Kałużna, The Institute of Modern Languages (Instytut Neofilologii), Faculty of Humanities (Wydział Humanistyczny), The University of Zielona Góra (Uniwersytet Zielonogórski), Poland Abstract The aim of the present study is to analyze the theme of social injustice in the nineteenth century translation of Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. It is to be seen what changes occurred in the theme of social injustice between the target and the source languages as a result of the translator’s initiative. The examined rendition comprises the Polish version of Oliwer Twist which was translated anonymously in 1845. The analysis is carried out with regard to a number of the translational parameters. These parameters include translation shifts (Catford, 1965), disambiguation and semantic or stylistic incongruities (Munday, 2004), direct and oblique techniques (Vinay and Darbelnet, 1995). The theoretical part of the paper presents such concepts as the issue of social injustice in Victorian England and Dickens’s personal attitude in this regard. The description of the theoretical notion of translation shifts is also included. Additionally, the model of analyzing meaning known as disambiguation is introduced. Concurrently, direct and oblique translation techniques in reference to semantic and stylistic incongruities are mentioned. The practical part consists in analyzing the selected fragments of the source text juxtaposed with their target equivalents. The scrutiny aims at identifying how phrases dealing with social injustice were translated in line with the translational parameters in question. Finally, conclusions are drawn. Keywords: Dickens, social injustice, translation analysis, translation shifts, direct and oblique translation techniques 1. Introduction Charles Dickens lived in difficult times when Great Britain had to face many challenges concerning man and society; particularly social and political issues needed urgent solutions (Wood, Hahn, 2012). Among multiple problems poverty, social injustice, and violence towards the weak and defenceless could be mentioned. As Stephen Currie points out: “Dickens’s England promised little and offered even less. Millions of men, women, and children led lives that verged on utter misery” (2014, p. 13). In this regard Victorian England was similar to Poland where such problems were also an issue. The characteristic feature present both in England and Poland was that people became more aware of the significance of social good. This awareness stemmed from philosophy based on ethical grounds such as idealism, utilitarianism and positivism (Wood, Hahn, 2012, p. 434). With the development of these philosophical views, awareness of social problems began to grow. Literature played an important role in making readers realise the need to face the problems societies in Great Britain as well as in Poland had to struggle with. The purpose of the article is to analyse the theme of social injustice in the Polish translation of Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. The subject of scrutiny includes the Polish translation entitled Oliwer Twist rendered anonymously in 1845. It is to be seen what changed occurred in the theme of social injustice between the source and the target language as a result of the translator’s initiative. In order to carry out the analysis, a number of translational parameters is to be applied. These parameters comprise translation shifts (Catford, 1965), disambiguation and semantic or stylistic incongruities (Hatim, Munday, 2004), direct and oblique translation procedures (Vinay and Darbelnet, 1995).