benson@dcdwest.UUCP (Peter Benson) (02/05/86)
The question of whether it is possible to translate poetry to
another languages is very similar to whether it is possible to
understand the subtlties (sp?) of literature written in another
time and culture. Or is it even possible to understand
contemporary literature from another culture. Here I mean
understand as another person from the culture would understand.
Or is it even possible to understand a person from another
culture who speaks the same language - understand at a deep level,
not just "Stop, there's danger ahead!". Or is it even possible
to understand what anyone else says. No one else has your
network of associations, no one else has your personal history.
Is it indeed possible for one to know what is really meant by
words he himself uttered. I have had the experience of
recollecting what I have said and knowing that I said one thing
in full earnestness, but in fact, meant at least several other
things as well. Words and language engender meaning in the
listener, but what gets communicated may be to be inaccessible to
the speaker. Are our thoughts truly effable?
--
_
Peter Benson | ITT Defense Communications Division
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