Can we Translate the Character of a Text?
Physiognomy of the Text
Abstract:
In this paper I will initially present an excerpt translated by Brian McGuinness (MS 122,
pp. 88r-88v) as a motive for a critical consideration of one of the main concepts among
Wittgensteinian translators: the physiognomy of a text. The excerpt from the MS 122 is
a codified observation in which Wittgenstein briefly considers the character of all great
art as a piece which always has the primitive drives of mankind as its ground-bass –
something which was missing in his own work in architecture. McGuinness, commenting
on Wittgenstein’s writing style, proposes his translation as a model that allows us to
glimpse the character of Wittgenstein’s own texts, which is, according to his view, of an
ascetic practice presented as a form of ornament. By putting an alternative translation
right beside McGuinness’ proposal, I will discuss the Portuguese translation of the
“Remarks on Frazer’s the Golden Bough” (Wittgenstein, 2011), the new Portuguese
translation of the “Philosophical Investigations” (to appear), and the project for a
Portuguese translation of the “Remarks on the Foundations of Mathematics” (work in
progress) as works carried out according to the latter alternative. Both alternatives,
however, will be treated in this article as “physiognomies”, for the purpose of such a
comparison is to ask about the adequacy of using that concept as a guideline in translating
Wittgenstein.
Key-words: Wittgenstein; translation theory; physiognomy; aspect perception; language-games.
Link: Can we Translate the Character of a Text?
Originally presented at the Norwegian-Brazilian SPIRE Workshop
Wittgenstein In/On Translation, at the University of Bergen
in June 26, 2017.
Originally presented at the Norwegian-Brazilian SPIRE Workshop
Wittgenstein In/On Translation, at the University of Bergen
in June 26, 2017.
