DisOrientations: German-Turkish Cultural Contact in Translation, 1811–1946

DisOrientations challenges the Eurocentric focus of comparative and world literature by examining the omnidirectional and transtemporal movements of translations. Kristin Dickinson's research reveals the disorienting potential of translations to reconfigure the relationships between original, translation, past, and present, and West and East. She develops a concept of translational orientation as a mode of omnidirectional encounter, focusing on case studies that work against the premises of containment and originality. The book links literary traditions across retroactively applied periodizations, producing new directionalities and opening new configurations of a future German-Turkish relationship.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 270 pages
Publication date: 06 December 2023
Publisher: Pennsylvania State University Press

The fields of comparative and world literature often maintain a unidirectional, Eurocentric focus, with a predominant emphasis on concepts such as "origin" and "arrival." However, DisOrientations offers a fresh perspective that challenges this conventional viewpoint. Kristin Dickinson employs a distinctive multilingual archive of German and Turkish translated texts spanning from the early nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century. In this insightful analysis, she unveils the omnidirectional and transtemporal movements of translations, which, as she argues, possess the power to disrupt and reconfigure the intricate relationships between the original text, its translation, historical periods, and geographical regions.

Through the examination of the works of three influential figures—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Friedrich Schrader, and Sabahattin Ali—Dickinson develops a concept of translational orientation as a mode of omnidirectional encounter. She delves into translations that transcend the confines of economic imperialism, Orientalism, or Westernization, highlighting case studies that challenge the fundamental premises of containment and originality that underpin Orientalisms system of discursive knowledge production. By linking literary traditions across retroactively applied periodizations, the translations analyzed in this book serve as points of connection that generate new directionalities and unlock innovative configurations of a future German-Turkish relationship.

DisOrientations is a groundbreaking and erudite work that delves into the complex realm of literary translation as a multifaceted mode of cultural, political, and linguistic orientation. This book will captivate scholars and students engaged in translation theory, comparative literature, Orientalism, and the history of German-Turkish cultural relations. It offers valuable insights into the ways in which translations shape and reshape our understanding of the world, challenging us to reevaluate our assumptions and broaden our horizons.

Weight: 399g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780271089850