Między słowem a ciszą: język przesłuchań w przekładzie polsko-chorwackim

This article explores the representation of silence, pauses, and refusal to speak in procedural documents and interrogation records, in the context of their translation from Polish into Croatian. The study examines various forms of silence – from conscious refusal to answer, through deliberate omissions, to hesitation. The analysis focuses on their pragmatic functions and the challenges they pose for sworn translators. The examples are based on both authentic and simulated interrogation transcripts, as well as on criminal procedure regulations applicable in Poland and Croatia. The article demonstrates that silence – despite its apparent neutrality – may hold significant communicative and legal value.