ABSTRACT

This chapter considers how the philosophy of Ludwig Wittgenstein can be of use to the translator who is writing the target text. Wittgenstein shows the translator both the existence of the fly-bottle and the way out, which begins with the realisation that translation has more to do with shopping than with mental processes. It investigates the language-game of writing the target text, as found in the forms of life of the translator. It shows how a reading of Wittgenstein can help the translator to discern significant irregularities in the language source text. The chapter also shows how a reading of Wittgenstein can help the translator to recreate significant irregularities in the target text. It examines how the translation of a play on words can be seen, under Wittgensteinian investigation, to be emblematic of translation. Finally, it applies insights from Wittgenstein to examples taken from literature, economics and philosophy.