Herausforderungen an den Übersetzer. Überlegungen zur Theorie und Praxis

Why are translations, in which languages convey cultures, always possible? Is it possible to observe translations’ scientific research fields reasoning forward from the strict empirical and phenomenological point of view, in order to extend the perspective to further reflections on language and linguistic signs? Herausforderungen an den Übersetzer aims to answer these questions without the aim of developing a new teaching approach about the Art of translating. It rather intends to offer a foundation for a long-term research topic focused on the ontological valence of language and the common identity of human beings. On a theoretical level, focus is on the main research fields connected with questions about purpose, terms and conditions of translating. At a pragmatic level, the work provides an example for the challenges a translator must face. 14 Italian translations of Goethe’s novel Elective Affinities (1809) published between 1837 and 2004 are analyzed in parallel. The analysis aims to highlight their different linguistic and stylistic ways of reporting the content-related scope of the polysemic word verwandt in all its different combinations within the novel.