This essay aims to determine the validity of the concept of referential
knowledge when applied to the specific activity of the multidisciplinary
scientific translator. From a purely pragmatical viewpoint, such a concept
seems to lack validity, since it is impossible for any multidisciplinary
translator to possess a thorough knowledge of every discipline he has to
deal with. Therefore he is forced to develop strategies which enable him to
circumvent his ignorance while preserving the communicative content of
the source language text.
