ABSTRACT

The possibility of untranslatability matters to all of us because of the significant role that translation plays in the dissemination of news and other forms of information between increasingly mobile populations, and because of the role it has played in the shaping of many belief systems and of traditions of art and literature. In addition, as Bernard Comrie points out, “the unified study of language as a general phenomenon,” so central to humanity, relies on “reliable descriptions of a wide range of languages.” This chapter reminds us of the philosophical arguments for and against untranslatability before introducing and countering the notion of translational relativism. It argues that untranslatability is never “vicious” in the sense of preventing understanding at some level; and that this a sufficient foundation on which to build mutual understanding, where there is a will. This makes “untranslatability” an interesting concept of investigation rather than an obstacle to translators’ efforts.