Le butin de guerre et la tunique de Nessus: traduire le rapport au français chez Malika Mokeddem et Assia Djebar.

Abstract

Migratory movements in the world have led to the formation of diasporas and immigrants cultures that transform both societies and immigrants themselves, while contributing to global or transnational identities and cultures. The development of these globalized cultures erodes concepts of culture and identity based on binary oppositions. This article shows the point of view of a translator from French into Dutch confronted with plural identity in postcolonial translation. The textual hybridism in the work of Francophone Algerian writers Assia Djebar and Malika Mokeddem can be contextualized with the help of the concept of Ricoeurs “l’étranger”. I want to show that the “strangeness” in style that has to find its way in translation, is linked to a specific relation to French as a result of colonialism. Mokeddem thinks of French as a spoil of war, or a “butin de guerre” as a result of 130 years of French colonisation and the Independence War (1954-1962). Djebar on the other hand considers French as a poisonous gift, as “la tunique de Nessus”.