The aim of this paper is to discuss intertexuality and assess its status in the process of translation. First a number of relevant typologies of intertextual relations are reviewed. The author argues that, for these relations to be meaningful for the translator, they must be seen within some conception of translation strategy that captures the complexity of the decision-making process at work. A scheme of this kind is presented an intertexuality is defined in terms of the semiotic dimension of context. Here, using register membership and interntionality as input, semiotic analysis of the act of referral points to the need to recognise to types of sign: micro-level socio-cultural objects, and macro-level socio-textual practices. Is is the latter domain of text handling which is of central concern to the discussion of the intertextual reference and the way it is dealt with and integrated in actual texts. Authentic translated or interpreted texts from both spoken and written language are used to demonstrate the claim that intertextuality is an all-pervasive textual phenomenon which can be an important source of ambiguity in text and thus a particularly problematic area in translation.