This paper contains the keystone of a unified translation theory and lists the relevant factors that lead to succesful translations: (activating) knowledge required for interpretation of the original, attitude towards the recipient of translation, choice of code, interpretation of the original, decision on, or awareness of the presence or absence of the original, the translator's attitude towards the source text, the attitude trowards the form of the translation code, decision as to the degree of literalness, decisons about the intentions, decisions on the manner of conveying the original intentions, and (activating) knowledge required for recoding. In order to illustrate the translation process, the translation of a Serbo-Croatian fragment from Ivo Andric's novel The Bridge on the Drina is presented.