Relevant Translation

Derrida himself was deeply interested in the concepts behind translation and has written extensively on the subject. One of his essays “What is a “Relevant” Translation?” states: “A relevant translation is a translation whose economy, in these two senses, is the best possible, the most appropriating and the most appropriate possible” (Critical Inquiry Winter 2001: 179). By the ‘two senses' of economy he means the ‘property' and ‘quantity' of the meaning. Property would refer to the most appropriate of the meanings possible and quantity to the word/s used by the target language to represent the source text. So by economy of translation he means a word that can capture the meaning of the original in all its widest connotations; the translation that can appropriate the meaning of the source text in as few words is a relevant translation. He further states: “every translation should be relevant by vocation. It would thus guarantee the survival of the body of the original (survival in the double sense that Benjamin gives it in "The Task of the Translator, "fortleben and überleben: prolonged life, continuous life, living on, but also life after death)” (Critical Inquiry: 199). Derrida exemplifies his statement by translating Portia's famous plea for mercy in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice . He plays upon the word ‘seasons' in the line “When mercy seasons justice”. Refuting Victor Hugo's word “tempère” for seasons, Derrida chooses “reléve” because he believes that the word ties together “three gestures” of the word ‘seasons'. It conveys the sense of cooking, of elevation (mercy elevates the concept of justice) and also a sense of relief. The last meaning, argues Derrida, gives it a wider philosophical dimension which is derived from Christian philosophy of mercy and compassion. So the sentence in translation would imply that mercy “elevates, re-places and interiorizes the justice that it seasons” (Critical Inquiry: 197).

The meticulous detailing of methodology given by Derrida is also an answer to those who criticize him and his theory for allowing too much freedom for interpretation. They feel that one can interpret a text in far-fetched and outlandish ways using deconstruction theory and get away with it. If this is true, then translation would mean a free-for-all where texts can be translated in whichever way one wants. However it is clear that Derrida's concepts do not allow for such anarchic freedom. It just liberates the word from the tyranny of a fixed meaning and allows it to play out its possibilities, but within certain limits. With the help of this theory, the translator does not have to be a menial who has to be in bondage to the source text, but a creator who samples, chooses and uses words to create another text with a life of its own.