On Philosophy of Language and Translation in Contemporary Foreign Translation Studies

Abstract

The paper deals with the informative and descriptive overview of the relationship between contemporary American and Western European philosophy, linguistics and translation theory and methodology from a synchronic-diachronic perspective. Numerous works in foreign philosophy have been devoted to this topic, but nowadays they have not provided a foundational basis for a monographic understanding of the relationship between philosophical methodology and linguistic and translation studies issues. This paper analyses the intersection of contemporary philosophical thought with the controversial issues of “pure language” and “pure meaning” and the aporia of “translatability/ untranslatability.” It is established that Benjamin’s concept of the connection between translation and the parent language “has no practical application in translation practice” (P. Ricoeur), but enjoys widespread popularity among philosophical theorists and some specialists in the sphere of artificial intelligence. A significant range of conflicting opinions regarding the significance of the category of “untranslatability” within logical-philosophical concepts is noted — from a complete denial of its relevance to the recognition of its existential ethical-translation value (L. Foran). The author’s research has shown that while the linguistic factor in translation has found its embodiment in scientific, theoretical and practical terms, philosophical thought has not fully mastered the creative space of linguistic-translation yet.