Jan 1, 2010

The Chairs | Differences in Languages and Translations

In the following brief essay, Brown discusses
the manner in which certain meanings in Ionesco¡¯s
play can be misconstrued due to differences in
language and translations.

Willis D. Jacobs¡¯ comment on The Chairs of Ionesco (EXP., Feb., 1964, XXII), is certainly very interesting and probably valid for the English text; but his attempt to find a positive message in the orator¡¯s writing on the blackboard must be doomed by a consultation of the French. The English translation ¡®¡®angelfood¡¯¡¯ stands for the French Angepain, which is the two words angel and bread placed side by side. This construction in French does not give adjectival force to the word angel as it does in English. The effect might be carried into English better if it were...