Thoughts on Translation - Jacques Derrida

Jacques Derrida viewed the art of translation with deep respect. He saw the work as a beautiful and terrifying responsibility that involved the fate of literature. To him, the task was a mix of desire, anxiety, and specialized knowledge. He wondered how anyone could discuss the subject before experts who face such immense stakes.

Derrida often admitted his own lack of experience in the professional field. From his first writing attempts, he avoided the career of a linguist. He felt the duty and debt of the craft were too heavy for him to manage. His humility highlighted the respect he held for those who master multiple languages.

Language and Translation Philosophy

We begin our segment on Famous Translators with a philosopher who often avoided the act of translating. Jacques Derrida worked as a philosopher rather than a professional French translator. However, his work centered on his faith in language as the best way to communicate.

His critique of relevant translation serves as praise for professional linguists. He respected those strong enough to handle the responsibility of high-quality translation. This thinker left a significant mark on modern thought and changed how academics study literature.

Derrida was born to Jewish parents in French colonial Algeria. Growing up in a culture where Judaism, Christianity, and Islam met shaped his perspective. He faced the reality of prejudice and exclusion throughout his youth. Many scholars see his work as a response to these early experiences.

Defining Deconstruction

Deconstruction is his most famous and often misunderstood idea. Derrida used this term to describe his specific way of thinking. In its basic form, deconstruction asks us to stop our usual habits of thought. It encourages us to look at the opposing viewpoint.

This process helps us see what is lost or buried underneath our biases. The concept is far from simple. Before he died from pancreatic cancer, Derrida wrote 40 books on this topic. His writing explored the layers of meaning that standard interpretations might hide.

These resources offer more detail on his theories regarding relevant translation. They include translated essays and expert discussions on his work.

• Read his thoughts in What Is a Relevant Translation?
• Lawrence Venuti provided the French translation for this piece.
• You can watch a translator roundtable on his work here.
• Venuti also wrote Translating Derrida on Translation.

Published Works and Academic Archives

Derrida’s impact can be seen in these figures. These statistics reflect his extensive contributions to philosophy and the preservation of his academic legacy.

• He published 40 books on philosophy and language. You can browse his books here.
• The University of California, Irvine, holds 116 boxes of his collected publications in its archives.
• He authored Writing and Difference.
• Other famous works include Speech and Phenomena and Of Grammatology.

Cambridge University Controversy

Derrida received an honorary degree from Cambridge University following a high-profile faculty vote. The event sparked a heated debate among the staff. The final vote was 336 in favor and 204 opposing the honor. This left a voting difference of 132 in his favor.

Opponents of the award voiced strong criticisms of his style. They claimed his writing denied the distinctions between fact and fiction. Some argued he ignored the difference between observation and imagination. Others suggested his approach combined evidence with prejudice.

Despite the controversy, his work continues to influence the field of linguistics. Our platform connects clients with hundreds of active professional French translators. We value open discussions regarding philosophy and the choices linguists make. We invite you to share your experiences with these complex ideas in the comments below.

Discussion and Series Overview

Stay tuned for more updates on Famous Translators and notable works. We would love to hear if your work feels like an existential experience. The following links provide access to other articles in our series. These posts highlight the diverse challenges faced by linguists across history.

• Deadly Translation: The Politics of Hitoshi Igarashi's Japanese Version of The Satanic Verses
• One Man's Soul Mountain: Translating Gao Xingjian
• The Mistranslation of the Mystical Nostradamus
• A Duel For Magical Realism: Translating Gabriel Garcia Marquez

About This Article

Famous Translators is a MotaWord segment showcasing notable professional translated works and famous linguists. We research and share stories that matter to every linguist on our blog. You can be published here by contacting info@motaword.com.

These sources provide additional context on his life and the philosophical methods he developed.

Citations: Jstor, TranslationJournal, IEP, Britannica, Shmoop