The author lists the text types which occur most frequently as a result of a number of text operations (such as addition, abbreviation, substitution, rearrangement an repetition). When these text operations are linked with the two basic categories on which figurative language rests, namely metaphor and metonymy, we have a framework which allows us to position the different text operations and to balance them against each other. The author also gives translation as textual operation a place in that framework and indicates the different types of translation against the background of the text operations mentioned earlier. These types of text processing are not marginal phenomena, but are to be considered as central in linguistic and literary activities.