In "The Task of the Translator", Walter Benjamin sets forth what he believes to be the true goal of any work of translation. Instead of conforming to the reader, a translation should conform to the source and target language of the work, the purpose of which is to expose the relationship between the two languages, how each complements the other in its use. But is there more to Benjamin's Task than that?
Walter Benjamin is commonly thought of as a Neukantianer because of his influence by the Marburger school, especially Cohen. Little is known, however, about his influence by Husserl's school of phenomenology. In this paper, we will determine Benjamin's influence by phenomenology by first developing a concise conception of intentionality based on a close reading of Husserl's principle work Logische Untersuchungen, as intentionality is the key term linking Benjamin to the phenomenological tradition. We will then provide a novel interpretation of Benjamin's essay "Die Aufgabe des Übersetzers" by focusing on his use of the phenomenological term 'intention' and, with help of Benjamin's fragments on the philosophy of language—where he also used the term intention in the phenomenological sens, provide a novel understanding of what Benjamin means by "das Gemeinte" and "die Art des Meinens" with respect to his theory of translation.
Table of Contents
1. Edmund Husserl's Conception of Intentionality, Logical Investigations
2. The Role of Intentionality in Translation - Benjamin's The Task of the Translator
3. Conclusion with an Example Translation: Rilke's Blaue Hortensie
Objectives & Topics
This work aims to bridge the gap between Edmund Husserl’s phenomenological theory of intentionality and Walter Benjamin’s essay "The Task of the Translator" to propose a new, phenomenology-based mode of translation.
- Husserl's conception of intentionality and meaning-intention
- Benjamin's theory of pure language and the translator's task
- The relationship between das Gemeinte and die Art des Meinens
- Practical application of phenomenological translation using Rilke's poetry
Excerpt from the Book
1. Edmund Husserl's Conception of Intentionality, Logical Investigations
In this section, we will analyze Husserl's principle text, Logische Untersuchungen, in order to develop a concise conception of intentionality. Much emphasis will be placed on the relationship between intentionality and Wesenschauung, but more critical to this essay is the development of a well-defined structure that outlines how Husserl understands intentionality to be constructed. The main questions we will ask are as follows: Does Husserl hold that objects of reflection, of imagination, of conceptual objects, can be objects of intentionality? What does Husserl have to say about propositional attitudes, such as beliefs and assumptions, and their relation to intentionality? It is widely known that Husserl did not make a distinction between sensuous phenomenology and cognitive phenomenology, but how does he understand the role of cognition to operate in phenomenology? How is cognition represented in intentionality? How does it relate to sensory phenomenology? Also of relevance are Husserl's thoughts about the role emotions play in intentionality: are they essential and constitutive to intentionality? We begin in the Prolegomena and work our way through the Investigations till we arrive at the fifth, where the structure of intentionality is throughly explicated.
Summary of Chapters
1. Edmund Husserl's Conception of Intentionality, Logical Investigations: This chapter provides a foundational analysis of Husserl’s phenomenological method, focusing on intentionality, meaning-intention, and the structure of intentional experiences.
2. The Role of Intentionality in Translation - Benjamin's The Task of the Translator: This chapter explores how Benjamin’s concepts of pure language and the translator's task can be interpreted through the lens of Husserlian phenomenology.
3. Conclusion with an Example Translation: Rilke's Blaue Hortensie: This chapter provides a practical demonstration of phenomenological translation by applying the developed theoretical framework to a specific poem by Rainer Maria Rilke.
Keywords
Husserl, Benjamin, intentionality, phenomenology, translation, meaning-intention, das Gemeinte, die Art des Meinens, pure language, Logische Untersuchungen, The Task of the Translator, Rilke, Eidos, consciousness, semantics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic paper?
The paper explores the intersection between Edmund Husserl's phenomenology and Walter Benjamin's theory of translation, specifically examining how the term 'intention' functions in both contexts.
What are the central thematic fields covered in the work?
The central fields are phenomenological philosophy, specifically Husserl's 'Logical Investigations', and literary theory, focusing on Benjamin's 'The Task of the Translator'.
What is the main objective or research question?
The objective is to formulate a new mode of translation based on Husserl's phenomenological insights to better understand Benjamin's concept of the translator's task.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The author uses a comparative and analytical methodology, reading Husserl's key texts to establish a framework that is subsequently applied to Benjamin's writings on translation.
What is treated in the main part of the work?
The main part analyzes the construction of intentionality, the role of meaning-intentions in communication, and the relationship between the referent and the mode of meaning (das Gemeinte vs. die Art des Meinens) in translation.
Which keywords characterize this research?
Keywords include Husserl, Benjamin, intentionality, phenomenology, translation theory, and meaning-intention.
How does the author define the 'task of the translator' in light of Benjamin's work?
The author defines it as the exposure of the tension between the intention of the poet and the intention of the translator, rather than a simple act of semantic reproduction.
How does the Rilke case study demonstrate the theoretical findings?
The translation of 'Blaue Hortensie' illustrates how the translator must move beyond the literal object to align the 'Eidos' of the original work with the target language, revealing the phenomenology of perception within the poem.
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- John Dorsch (Autor:in), 2014, Walter Benjamin and "The Task of the Translator". An Interpretation based on his Influence by Phenomenology, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/412283
