Translation operations in ‘Le Facteur de la vérité’

Abstract

This paper deals with the status of translation in Jacques Derrida's Le facteur de la vérité by investigating what we call translation operations, which are characterized by the presence of the language of the other in the Derridean text. Derrida's use of grafts (greffe) stands out as the most relevant to understand the logic behind these operations, for the combination of graphic symbols and insertions paves the way for new plays of meaning. This grafting process reveals an act of hostipitality, Derrida's neologism to define the act of welcoming and assimilating the language and/or the text of the other, as well as the unavoidable distance and possible hostility. Making use of translation operations, Derrida questions the hierarchy between native and foreign language, between source and target texts, unveiling the power game that is characteristic of all readings.