Naturally, the target texts retain the above detailed superstructure elements as well as the relative simplicity of sentence structures, which latter feature can also be put down to translators’ preference to observing sentence boundaries. The 28-sentence-long Source Text 1 has been translated as 28 and 33-sentence long target texts by the two translators, respectively. As the receivers of Target Texts 1 and 5 are likely to be primarily MSZP loyal visitors to the website of MSZP, these target texts do not exhibit participant-related translation shifts. The situation is different in the case of Target Texts 2 and 6, which are to be published on Fidesz’s website, the majority of the readership of which is likely to be Fidesz supporters. This also explains the translation shifts elaborated on in connection with the aspect of implications and consequences within the component of Action.

It must, at the same time, be noted that if Hungary were more in the focus of international attention and if there were many more pieces of news about Hungary in the international press, the translators would have been able to reproduce typical instances of phrases characterising diversely biased news reports about Hungary. This, however, is not the case. Participant-related features of Source Text 1 thus remain unchanged in the target texts.

The next aspect of Action is higher level action, which denotes the position of texts in their political agendas and political environments. Source Text 1 was written after a severe defeat of the governing coalition in the Social Referendum. Therefore, the article intends to prove that the Referendum was not a big issue and that no further consequences can be drawn from the results of the Referendum. This is underpinned by the fact that the article does not mention exact data concerning voter turnout or the results and does not write about the fact that the Referendum results can be interpreted as a protest against the policies of the government but rather focuses on the importance of the health care reform and the Prime Minister’s role in the reform. This is especially understandable if one remembers that Fidesz interpreted the Referendum results as a democratic civic move against a despotic government. To combat this, Népszabadság instead focuses on the reforms carried out by the government and by Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány rather than discussing the consequences of the Referendum in a wider political context.

Naturally, translators have no means to manipulate or alter the political agendas and political environment characteristic of the source text in question in their target texts. They, however, can strengthen or undermine the political agendas associated with the source text in question. This in the case of the source text and the target texts examined is achieved by lexical choice. Target Text 1 by MSZP supporter Translator 1 for MSZP underscores the higher level action of Népszabadság by referring to PM Gyurcsány’s government specifically in sentence 16 writing The government has obligations rather than referring to governing in general, which appears in sentence 16 of the Hungarian source text: A kormányzásnak kötelezettségei vannak [Governing includes obligations]. In a similar fashion, PM Gyurcsány in sentence 26 of Source Text 1 is referred to as reformer miniszterelnök [reformer Prime Minister], translated as advocate of reforms in Target Text 1 (sentence 26), which signals active involvement in reforms, rather than the Hungarian descriptive phrase that merely denotes that the Prime Minister is a supporter of reforms. In the same sentence the clause legalább az esélyét meg kell teremtenie annak, hogy […] kérdésben ne szenvedjen kudarcot [at least the chance should be created to avoid failure in the question of […] containing references to a possible failure is rendered with the positive and affirmative phrase needs to give it a chance that he successfully faces […] question, suggesting optimism towards the future success of PM Gyurcsány’s government.

Target Text 2 rendered by MSZP supporter Translator 1 for Fidesz does not focalise PM Gyurcsány’s government and uses hedges when discussing avoidance of failure. Thus sentence 16 reads: Any government has obligations, which is a general statement and leaves PM Gyurcsány’s government in the background. The clause in sentence 26 of Source Text 1 legalább az esélyét meg kell teremtenie annak, hogy […] kérdésben ne szenvedjen kudarcot [at least the chance should be created to avoid failure in the question of […] is translated as he needs to give it a try in sentence 26, which suggests tentativeness thus promoting a less optimistic view of the future of PM Gyurcsány’s government.

Target Texts 5 and 6 produced by Fidesz supporter Translator 2 for MSZP and Fidesz, respectively, use the general term governance in sentence 19 thus defocalizing PM Gyurcsány’s government, hinting that it may well be another government that has to do something about this question. This is interpreted here as the textual surfacing of the political commitment of Translator 2. The clause in sentence 26 of Target Text 1 legalább az esélyét meg kell teremtenie annak, hogy […] kérdésben ne szenvedjen kudarcot [at least the chance should be created to avoid failure in the question of […] is translated as he needs to ensure that he avoids failure in sentence 31 of Target Text 5, which expresses the idea of necessity for the common good thus satisfying the MSZP supporter readership. The same clause, however, is rendered as he needs to at least try to ensure that he avoids failure in sentence 31 of Target Text 6 for Fidesz, where the addition of at least try communicates less likelihood of avoiding failure thus pronouncing PM Gyurcsány incapable of governing.

In sum, it is obvious that translators, even if they cannot manipulate the higher level action expressed by the text, can strengthen or undermine the political agendas associated with the source texts in question through using different phrasing in favour of the higher level action promoted by the client.

The next aspect of the component of Context is local and global contexts, which refers to the immediate communicative context as well as to the immediate and long term social and political effects the texts under scrutiny create. Source Text 1 was written right after the Social Referendum was held. The article contributes to MSZP’s tactic of trying to cut short the time while Fidesz can enjoy victory and instead it focuses readers’ attention on the future of the health care reform and the Prime Minister, which is clearly signalled by the position of sentences 26-28 at the focalised end of the article. The most important question, in terms of longer-term political consequences, is the political future of the Prime Minister. References to this are made in sentences 20-21 and 27 in Source Text 1. Sentences 20-21 sound like akkor meg menni kell. Ez ennyire egyszerű. [then he will have to go. This is so simple.] while sentence 27 reads Az ugyanis miniszterelnöki tevékenységének a csődje lenne [This would be the failure in his activity as Prime Minister.]. As Fidesz was repeatedly attacking the Prime Minister personally, demanding his resignation, with respect to translators’ political bias, it is interesting to explore how references to the Prime Minister’s future are worded in the target texts. In Target Text 1 produced by MSZP supporter Translator 1 for MSZP, we find the following translation of sentences 20-21 of Source Text 1: then they will have to resign. It is as simple as that. (sentences 20-21 of Target Text 1) and this would mean the end of his career as a prime minister (sentence 27 of Target Text 1) as the translation of sentence 27 of Source Text 1. The choice of lexis of resign and end of his career as well as the phrasing as simple as that reflects objectivity and thus distancing, which signals that Translator 1 prioritises the political survival of the governing coalition over the personal political future of Mr. Ferenc Gyurcsány. However, in Target Text 2, Translator 1 uses non-neutral terms to describe the same actions: then they will have to go. It is as simple as that (sentences 20-21 of Target Text 2) and it would mean his fiasco as prime minister (sentence 27 of Target Text 2). The choice of lexis of go and especially fiasco signal negative evaluation of the Prime Minister, which is the result of the fact that MSZP supporter Translator 2 produces this translation for Fidesz. Target Text 5 rendered by Fidesz supporter Translator 2 for MSZP, as translation of the same sentences, contains they will have no other choice but to resign. This is so simple! (sentences 23-24 of Target Text 5), which uses 3rd person plural extending the scope of resignation to the entire government (they will have no other choice…). Similarly, in the clause this would indicate his failure as a Prime Minister (sentence 32 of Target Text 5) the noun failure also expresses negative achievement. Obviously, Translator 2 incorporated his own political convictions in the target text irrespective of client expectations. In Target Text 6, he goes even further as this text is for Fidesz and writes: they will have no other choice but to step down finally. This should be so simple! (sentences 23-24 of Target Text 6) and this will indicate his failure as a Prime Minister (sentence 32 of Target Text 6). The phrasal verb step down bears the connotation of somebody else taking the place of the Prime Minister, the addition of finally and the auxiliary should signal impatience on the part of Translator 2 for political change, while the auxiliary will signals certainty about the doom of PM Gyurcsány. The above clearly indicates that translators, as a rule, will incorporate their perception of long term political effects through the choice of lexis in target texts.

Summing up the findings regarding the component of Context, the participants-related features of Source Text 1 remain unchanged in the target texts. Concerning higher level action, – even if higher level action cannot be manipulated – translators do strengthen or undermine the political agendas in favour of client expectations. With reference to local and global contexts, translators incorporate references to long-term political effects through choice of lexis in an attempt to satisfy client expectations concerning the presentation of social and political effects.