| Revision as of 07:59, 3 May 2009 (edit) SvDijk (Talk | contribs) (New page: <br>__NOEDITSECTION__ == Translator and Historian: Louise de Kéralio-Robert and English Travel Writers == <br><br> ''Abstract:''<br><br> Louise de Kéralio-Robert (1756-1822) is assumed...) ← Previous diff |
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| - | == Translator and Historian: Louise de Kéralio-Robert and English Travel Writers == | + | == Writing in an Enemy Language: ''L'analphabète'' by Agota Kristof == |
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| ''Abstract:''<br><br> | ''Abstract:''<br><br> | ||
| - | Louise de Kéralio-Robert (1756-1822) is assumed to have translated at | + | Writer Agota Kristof, born in Hungary in 1935 and living in exile in |
| - | least seven works from Italian and English. This essay gives a detailed | + | Switzerland since 1956, has recently published her autobiography, |
| - | account of her many activities before focussing on her 1809 versions of ''Le voyage en Hollande et dans le Midi de l'Allemagne'' and ''L'étranger en Irlande'', both by John Carr. Kéralio-Robert's strategy of commenting on and indeed undermining the original by means of extensive notes and paratexts transforms the act of translating into a pretext for continuing to write history by other means. Thus, the «task» (Walter Benjamin) of this woman translator testifies to an unprecedented political and pedagogical project. | + | ''L'analphabète'' [The Illiterate] (2004). In this book she describes feeling illiterate during her first years in exile, as she struggled to master the French language. After five years, she came to realise that she needed to learn French if she wanted to integrate. Although the fact that her books are all written in French is evidence of her success, Kristof still considers French a ''langue ennemie'' [enemy language], one that is difficult to handle and is even killing her mother tongue. This essay examines Kristof's relationship to language, reading and writing by asking why she has chosen to write in French and how she writes in this langue ennemie. Comparing ''L'analphabète'' with an earlier German version of the text, it can be argued that the use of certain rhetorical and autobiographical blank spaces is a calculated decision and can be tied to issues of gender. |
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| - | *Publications > Volumes ''WomenWriters'' > Crossroads of Languages > Pellegrin<br><br> | + | *Publications > Volumes ''WomenWriters'' > Crossroads of Languages > Schaefer<br><br> |
Current revision
Writing in an Enemy Language: L'analphabète by Agota Kristof
Abstract:
Writer Agota Kristof, born in Hungary in 1935 and living in exile in
Switzerland since 1956, has recently published her autobiography,
L'analphabète [The Illiterate] (2004). In this book she describes feeling illiterate during her first years in exile, as she struggled to master the French language. After five years, she came to realise that she needed to learn French if she wanted to integrate. Although the fact that her books are all written in French is evidence of her success, Kristof still considers French a langue ennemie [enemy language], one that is difficult to handle and is even killing her mother tongue. This essay examines Kristof's relationship to language, reading and writing by asking why she has chosen to write in French and how she writes in this langue ennemie. Comparing L'analphabète with an earlier German version of the text, it can be argued that the use of certain rhetorical and autobiographical blank spaces is a calculated decision and can be tied to issues of gender.
SvD, May 2009
- Publications > Volumes WomenWriters > Crossroads of Languages > Schaefer