Our accumulated knowledge about translation indicates more and more that translational procedures between two systems (languages/ literatures) are in principle analogous, even homologous, with transfers within the borders of the system. The hypothesis of analogy/ho- mology has been formulated before, notably by Jakobson (1959), but no consequences have ever been drawn for translation theory. Shall we go on ignoring this hypothesis or would it not be wiser to acknowledge the implicit practice whereby translation is discussed in terms of trans- fer and vice versa? In other words, would it not be profitable to think and work explicitly rather than implicitly in terms of a transfer theory? If so, where will inter-systemic translation be located, and with what consequences?