This paper outlines a theoretical and empirical framework for the study of translation within the traditions of discourse analysis and communication studies. The approach is developed theoretically by postulating a distinction between two types of meaning relationships on the discoursal level: cohesion and coherence. Both types of shifts are exemplified in the paper by contrastive textual analysis of non-fictional and fictional English/French and English/Hebrew translations. The paper concludes with a plea for a change in orientation in the study of translation, arguing for an empirical psycholinguistic approach to investigating translation processes and effects.