OK folks the man’s name is Domenico Jervolino (sometimes Iervolino) so you can google away. His English wasn’t too bad at all. The 3 of us sat by the liffey and talked philosophy and politics. Firstly I gave him the questions – he was quite impressed though it took a while to explain the context that they came from an internet forum and so on. Then we talked a bit of politics (he’s in the Italian Re-foundation Communists) – I mainly tried to explain why the left in Ireland was historically very week since the civil war though they took a very prominent role in the war of independence.
Anyway I scrawled some rough notes but, to be honest, I’ve lost a lot of the replies – I may be able to get his E Mail address if you want to pursue matters! (also I meant to cut these out of teh orginal thread but its don’t exist no more!)
Imp: He said that himself and Ricoeur liked the image of human languages as a Tower of Babel. They did not see this as a curse (or malediction to use his own nice term) but a very good thing. Self is defined through language – both your own and the pressing in of other languages. He thought an entirely private language would imply a total retreat from this and be difficult or impossible. We also had a bit of chat about how the internet, ironically, has extended diversity – but that things like Microsoft and the workings of google might limit it in some ways.
Mastriani: All I got on this (I don’t think it really answers your question at all!!) is that there is always understanding but, also, this automatically always implies misunderstanding. How ever misunderstanding leads to retranslation and an increase in understanding – this cycle goes on but misunderstanding is never completely eliminated.
As we walked him back to the LUAS across the Ha penny bridge I suddenly caught sight of something. It looked very like a US dollar so I presumed it might be lefty leaflet I could show him. Turned out to be 550 real US dollars rolled up in a bundle lying on the road. Picture it three philosophers walk over a bridge then one sees 550 dollars – sounds like a start to a good story……
It was just a capuchino and a cranberry juice but was interestin’ - they both advised me to keep the money by the way- when I suggested I might give it to the cops they were outraged!
I’ve posted notes up every day with my number - only one taker so far - but wasn’t right amount or currency!
Good article by himself - I like it very optimistic!
Within the methodological perspective where I place myself, there is no gift of the phenomenon except in the gift of language, nor any gift of language outside the plurality of, or better said, the diversity of languages. The diversity of languages constitutes the presuppositions of the work of translation. Language, languages, translation therefore enter into the very heart of the constitution of sense.
Depending upon what language you learn as a child or within your lifetime [your main language in your mind] – the brain will actually function differently.
Language is a method [not only] of expression, but integral also to that which comes before expression [which is thought itself].
I wouldn’t think language diversity was good or bad. It’s more like self-determination applied to cultural groups or races.
What about Chomsky (after Descartes) who says a lot of the logical structures to “do” (esp grammer etc) any language are hard wired in - How much is flexible eg changes with what ever language you learn - or is it possible to even guess at these things.
