Translation between Heidegger and Derrida

Abstract

The question about translation, as Derrida claims, is «the» question of deconstruction. Thus, Derrida understands that translation is not just the «transfer» of signifiers between languages, process which would respect the ideal-immaterial meaning. On the contrary, Derrida points to a translation of an «original» which has never been, a text which needs translation and so he states translation as an «im-possible» task, as the endless creation of the Other, as reception of the legacy and the impossible affirmation of mourning. In this sense, it may be set out the possibility of «translating» Derrida’s texts towards Heideggerian thought, where it is also rejected the idea of a translation as «exchange», as a technical or mechanical task, stating then translation as the truly essence of thought and language. However, it is found out on this closeness the im-possibility of translating Derrida’s text to Heideggerian corpus.