This volume is the first of its kind to explore the notion of untranslatability from a wide variety of interdisciplinary perspectives and its implications within the broader context of translation studies. Featuring contributions from both leading authorities and emerging scholars in the field, the book looks to go beyond traditional comparisons of target texts and their sources to more rigorously investigate the myriad ways in which the term untranslatability is both conceptualized and applied. The first half of the volume focuses on untranslatability as a theoretical or philosophical construct, both to ground and extend the term’s conceptual remit, while the second half is composed of case studies in which the term is applied and contextualized in a diverse set of literary text types and genres, including poetry, philosophical works, song lyrics, memoir, and scripture. A final chapter examines untranslatability in the real world and the challenges it brings in practical contexts. Extending the conversation in this burgeoning contemporary debate, this volume is key reading for graduate students and researchers in translation studies, comparative literature, gender studies, and philosophy of language. The editors are grateful to the University of East Anglia Faculty of Arts and Humanities, who supported the book with a publication grant.

This collection brings together contributions from translation theorists, linguists, and literary scholars to promote interdisciplinary dialogue about untranslatability and its implications within the context of globalization. The chapters depart from the pragmatics of translation practice and move on to consider the role of the translator’s voice and the translator as author in specific literary works. The volume as a whole seeks to study and at times dramatize the interplay between translation as a creative practice and its place within the dynamic between local and global examining case studies across a wide variety of literary genres and traditions across regions. By highlighting the complex interface between translation practice and theory, translator and author, and local and global, this book will be of particular interest to graduate students and scholars in translation studies and literary studies.

Against World Literature: On the Politics of Untranslatability argues for a rethinking of comparative literature focusing on the problems that emerge when large-scale paradigms of literary studies ignore the politics of the “Untranslatable”—the realm of those words that are continually retranslated, mistranslated, transferred from language to language, or especially resistant to substitution. In the place of “World Literature”—a dominant paradigm in the humanities, one grounded in market-driven notions of readability and universal appeal—Apter proposes a plurality of “world literatures” oriented around philosophical concepts and geopolitical pressure points. The history and theory of the language that constructs World Literature is critically examined with a special focus on Weltliteratur, literary world systems, narrative ecosystems, language borders and checkpoints, theologies of translation, and planetary devolution in a book set to revolutionize the discipline of comparative literature.

Seminar paper from the year 2015 in the subject Theology - Islamic theology, grade: 2,3, University of Siegen (Philosophische Fakultät), course: An Introduction to Translation Theory, language: English, abstract: The aim of this term paper is to provide evidence that the Koran is untranslatable and how incorrectly translated verses are abused by sects to manipulate their audience and to gain more members. The paper concentrates only on the linguistic level and not on the political effects of incorrect translations. The idea of untranslatability and reasons why Islamic scholars think that the Koran is untranslatable are presented. In relation to that, the paper also refers to the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis. In the second part, some incorrectly translated verses sby some guidelines based on Gerzymisch-Arbogast’s "Übersetzungswissenschaftliches Propädeutikum" are criticised.

Characters in some languages, particularly Hebrew and Arabic, may not display properly due to device limitations. Transliterations of terms appear before the representations in foreign characters. This is an encyclopedic dictionary of close to 400 important philosophical, literary, and political terms and concepts that defy easy—or any—translation from one language and culture to another. Drawn from more than a dozen languages, terms such as Dasein (German), pravda (Russian), saudade (Portuguese), and stato (Italian) are thoroughly examined in all their cross-linguistic and cross-cultural complexities. Spanning the classical, medieval, early modern, modern, and contemporary periods, these are terms that influence thinking across the humanities. The entries, written by more than 150 distinguished scholars, describe the origins and meanings of each term, the history and context of its usage, its translations into other languages, and its use in notable texts. The dictionary also includes essays on the special characteristics of particular languages--English, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. Originally published in French, this one-of-a-kind reference work is now available in English for the first time, with new contributions from Judith Butler, Daniel Heller-Roazen, Ben Kafka, Kevin McLaughlin, Kenneth Reinhard, Stella Sandford, Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, Jane Tylus, Anthony Vidler, Susan Wolfson, Robert J. C. Young, and many more.The result is an invaluable reference for students, scholars, and general readers interested in the multilingual lives of some of our most influential words and ideas. Covers close to 400 important philosophical, literary, and political terms that defy easy translation between languages and cultures Includes terms from more than a dozen languages Entries written by more than 150 distinguished thinkers Available in English for the first time, with new contributions by Judith Butler, Daniel Heller-Roazen, Ben Kafka, Kevin McLaughlin, Kenneth Reinhard, Stella Sandford, Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, Jane Tylus, Anthony Vidler, Susan Wolfson, Robert J. C. Young, and many more Contains extensive cross-references and bibliographies An invaluable resource for students and scholars across the humanities

This collection brings together contributions from translation theorists, linguists, and literary scholars to promote interdisciplinary dialogue about untranslatability and its implications within the context of globalization. The chapters depart from the pragmatics of translation practice and move on to consider the role of the translator’s voice and the translator as author in specific literary works. The volume as a whole seeks to study and at times dramatize the interplay between translation as a creative practice and its place within the dynamic between local and global examining case studies across a wide variety of literary genres and traditions across regions. By highlighting the complex interface between translation practice and theory, translator and author, and local and global, this book will be of particular interest to graduate students and scholars in translation studies and literary studies.