My research encompasses French and Francophone literature, Comparative Literature and Practical Translation Studies. Although most of my research work is concentrated on the 20th and 21st centuries, I do not limit myself to these time periods and I include film studies in my consideration of texts. Henri Pierre Roché, his work and life, has been the main focus of my research for many years and I remain very interested in this seminal figure. Currently I work on themes that allow the exploration of texts in the fields of animal studies, health and crime. Address: Austin, Texas, United States
Since Wild Dog first crawled from the Wet Wild Woods and laid his head on Woman’s lap, he has hel... more Since Wild Dog first crawled from the Wet Wild Woods and laid his head on Woman’s lap, he has helped man, not only to hunt and protect, but also as guide. A guide with enhanced senses in the physical world who could find a way across unmarked landscapes, a clever empathic being who could lead man to certain places or to specific individuals. No wonder then that the best-known ancient dog deities accompany humans as guides, often on their way to the afterlife. Dog guides—not to be confused with guide dogs—have remained a constant feature of the representation of dogs in literature, reflecting as much of the nature of these dogs as of the nature and needs of the humans they attend. In this way, the human-animal relationship also reveals how the solipsistic tendencies of human self-definition limits our capacity for being in the world. In the two contemporary novels that form the basis of my enquiry, La Possibilité d’une île (2005) by Michel Houellebecq and Op ’n dag, ’n hond (2016) by...
Kulturbegegnung und Kulturkonflikt im (post-)kolonialen Kriminalroman
in
Jahrbuch für Internation... more Kulturbegegnung und Kulturkonflikt im (post-)kolonialen Kriminalroman in Jahrbuch für Internationale Germanistik
Literator 36(2), 2015, Art. #1193
Henri Pierre Roché (1879–1959), the author of Jules et Jim, ... more Literator 36(2), 2015, Art. #1193
Henri Pierre Roché (1879–1959), the author of Jules et Jim, has been called a general introducer, an exemplary amateur, a collector of women and art and one of the most prolific diarists and active lovers in recorded history. Author of a collection of vignettes about Don Juan, Roché was fascinated with the figure of the seducer and in his twenties planned to devote his life
to the creation of a body of work which would examine moral, intellectual, social and sexual relations between women and men. To this end, he would transform his life into a laboratory
where real-life experiences would become the main source of reference. Roché’s diary spans sixty years and abounds in tales of seduction. However, the most intense and captivating
intrigue of seduction and betrayal in his diary, is his relationship with Helen Hessel. At the start of their affair, Roché suggested that she too should keep a diary of the maelstrom of passion into which they were plunged. Written in French, German and English, Helen Hessel’s diary captures the drama of seduction and functions on several levels: realistic, visionary, absorbed in her thoughts and emotions and yet critical of herself and others. A juxtaposed reading of the two diaries generates a fascinatingly dense texture, revealing the mechanisms
of seduction at play. The counterpoint created by these two interdependent voices becomes ever more complex as one becomes aware of the intertextual references that contribute to the emerging polyphony of recorded life and love.
Abstract:
Bitterkomix is a controversial underground comic in Afrikaans. This article explores t... more Abstract:
Bitterkomix is a controversial underground comic in Afrikaans. This article explores the importance, in translation, of understanding the social and cultural context of the source language in order to capture the essential meaning and impact of the original text in its translation. In the case of the translation of Bitterkomix into French, the translator had to bear in mind the position and function of the language in the broader scope of Afrikaans protest literature and, consequently, make certain decisions with regard to his own perception of the role of the translator as bringing the text to the reader (or the reader to the text) in the terms of Schleiermacher. Furthermore, the article explores specific themes that occur in the Bitterkomix texts and how their interpretation may influence strategies and considerations that relate specifically to the translation of comics. The importance of stylistic differences and their influence on translation are explored. Other issues that are examined include the translation of names, intertextual references and retranslation. The article calls into question the widely accepted notion that the translator should always translate into his first language, particularly with regard to minority languages.
Since Wild Dog first crawled from the Wet Wild Woods and laid his head on Woman’s lap, he has hel... more Since Wild Dog first crawled from the Wet Wild Woods and laid his head on Woman’s lap, he has helped man, not only to hunt and protect, but also as guide. A guide with enhanced senses in the physical world who could find a way across unmarked landscapes, a clever empathic being who could lead man to certain places or to specific individuals. No wonder then that the best-known ancient dog deities accompany humans as guides, often on their way to the afterlife. Dog guides—not to be confused with guide dogs—have remained a constant feature of the representation of dogs in literature, reflecting as much of the nature of these dogs as of the nature and needs of the humans they attend. In this way, the human-animal relationship also reveals how the solipsistic tendencies of human self-definition limits our capacity for being in the world. In the two contemporary novels that form the basis of my enquiry, La Possibilité d’une île (2005) by Michel Houellebecq and Op ’n dag, ’n hond (2016) by...
Kulturbegegnung und Kulturkonflikt im (post-)kolonialen Kriminalroman
in
Jahrbuch für Internation... more Kulturbegegnung und Kulturkonflikt im (post-)kolonialen Kriminalroman in Jahrbuch für Internationale Germanistik
Literator 36(2), 2015, Art. #1193
Henri Pierre Roché (1879–1959), the author of Jules et Jim, ... more Literator 36(2), 2015, Art. #1193
Henri Pierre Roché (1879–1959), the author of Jules et Jim, has been called a general introducer, an exemplary amateur, a collector of women and art and one of the most prolific diarists and active lovers in recorded history. Author of a collection of vignettes about Don Juan, Roché was fascinated with the figure of the seducer and in his twenties planned to devote his life
to the creation of a body of work which would examine moral, intellectual, social and sexual relations between women and men. To this end, he would transform his life into a laboratory
where real-life experiences would become the main source of reference. Roché’s diary spans sixty years and abounds in tales of seduction. However, the most intense and captivating
intrigue of seduction and betrayal in his diary, is his relationship with Helen Hessel. At the start of their affair, Roché suggested that she too should keep a diary of the maelstrom of passion into which they were plunged. Written in French, German and English, Helen Hessel’s diary captures the drama of seduction and functions on several levels: realistic, visionary, absorbed in her thoughts and emotions and yet critical of herself and others. A juxtaposed reading of the two diaries generates a fascinatingly dense texture, revealing the mechanisms
of seduction at play. The counterpoint created by these two interdependent voices becomes ever more complex as one becomes aware of the intertextual references that contribute to the emerging polyphony of recorded life and love.
Abstract:
Bitterkomix is a controversial underground comic in Afrikaans. This article explores t... more Abstract:
Bitterkomix is a controversial underground comic in Afrikaans. This article explores the importance, in translation, of understanding the social and cultural context of the source language in order to capture the essential meaning and impact of the original text in its translation. In the case of the translation of Bitterkomix into French, the translator had to bear in mind the position and function of the language in the broader scope of Afrikaans protest literature and, consequently, make certain decisions with regard to his own perception of the role of the translator as bringing the text to the reader (or the reader to the text) in the terms of Schleiermacher. Furthermore, the article explores specific themes that occur in the Bitterkomix texts and how their interpretation may influence strategies and considerations that relate specifically to the translation of comics. The importance of stylistic differences and their influence on translation are explored. Other issues that are examined include the translation of names, intertextual references and retranslation. The article calls into question the widely accepted notion that the translator should always translate into his first language, particularly with regard to minority languages.
Traduction d'un essai de Marlene van Niekerk, "Oor draketande, soetjiespoepers, fynproewers en wo... more Traduction d'un essai de Marlene van Niekerk, "Oor draketande, soetjiespoepers, fynproewers en wors. ʼn Stellenbosse allegaartjie vir stem en regopklavier met twee intermezzo’s plus historiese bygeruis" 2014. Le texte est disponible au lien indiquê.
The life of Henri-Pierre Roché (1879 – 1959), art collector, journalist, writer, finds its singul... more The life of Henri-Pierre Roché (1879 – 1959), art collector, journalist, writer, finds its singular rhythm in a continual meandering between dispersion and the search for unifying harmony. This dispersion – moral and physical – appears to represent a necessary evil for him since he considers his vocation to be the gathering of human experiences from as wide a spectrum as possible in order to create a work that would be useful to society, that would lead to better understanding of issues such as political harmony, eroticism and polygamy.
The dissertation consists of a detailed biographical study which covers Roché’s formative years until the publication of his first literary works (1879 – 1907). A biographical summary of the remainder of his life is followed by a chapter on his first major publication, Don Juan et... , which has not formed the subject of any literary analysis prior to this. The third chapter consists of an interpretation of Roché’s novel Deux Anglaises et le Continent as both a work of initiation and an initiation to his work, illustrating how it introduces themes that recur in two further novels, Jules et Jim and Victor.
Through his way of life, Roché’s life becomes his most extensive and involved œuvre. This dissertation traces the roots of his propensity for dispersion and lack of unity, to his childhood and specifically to the form of education advocated by his mother Clara Roché. This attribute surfaces again in Roché’s keeping of a personal diary, spanning almost sixty years, in which he compulsively observes and notes his own behaviour and that of those around him. The diary emphasises and prepares the fragmentary, compressed style and open-ended writing which would later become Roché’s trademark.
Abandoning his studies in political science, Roché sets out on a career which has much in common with the lives dilettante intellectuals fashion for themselves towards the end of the 19th century. His first human project, formulated around 1902, is an attempt to understand the mystery of erotic love and the possibilities of sexual relationships. To this end, he transforms his own life into a kind of laboratory. At a time when France has hostile inclinations towards Britain and Germany, Roché undertakes extensive journeys to these countries, learning the languages and opening himself to literary, social and philosophical influences. The dissertation pays particular attention to the analysis of these influences, an area which has not yet been covered by any other research. Through a detailed interpretation of Don Juan et..., the nature of seduction and desire is examined in the context of the literary myth of Don Juan and the association between fragmentation and desire is emphasised.
In conclusion, the association between desire and its written expression is examined and found to be reflected in Roché’s fragmentary writing, through which he appears to find a solution/ compromise in the form of voluntary incompleteness compensating for his failure in the impossible quest for unity.
Created as part of the collaborative South African - French research project on Crime fiction in ... more Created as part of the collaborative South African - French research project on Crime fiction in Africa, this glossary is intended to help foreign readers and viewers to understand words, notions and images used in South African fiction. (Work in progress! Non-exhaustive. Constructive suggestions for additions are welcome.)
Der plotzliche Tod von Arnold Blumer am 4. Juli 2004 ist nicht nur ein groser Verlust fur die Ger... more Der plotzliche Tod von Arnold Blumer am 4. Juli 2004 ist nicht nur ein groser Verlust fur die Germanistik und den Deutschunterricht in Sudafrika, sondern auch fur die Theaterwelt und die Literaturkritik des Landes.
Le Francais a L Universite Bulletin Des Departements De Francais Dans Le Monde, Dec 20, 2013
Le contexte du seminaire L’Universite de Stellenbosch (Afrique du Sud) a accueilli du 9 au 13 dec... more Le contexte du seminaire L’Universite de Stellenbosch (Afrique du Sud) a accueilli du 9 au 13 decembre 2013 un atelier sur la « traduction litteraire au service du multilinguisme en Afrique », organise avec l’aide de l’Agence universitaire de la Francophonie (Bureau Ocean Indien).Le comite scientifique du seminaire etait compose de Catherine Du Toit, de l’Universite de Stellenbosch (Afrique du Sud), de Gavin Bowd, de l’Universite de Saint-Andrews (Ecosse) et de Liliane Ramarosoa, de l’Universite (...)
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Henri Pierre Roché (1879–1959), the author of Jules et Jim, has been called a general introducer, an exemplary amateur, a collector of women and art and one of the most prolific diarists and active lovers in recorded history. Author of a collection of vignettes about Don Juan, Roché was fascinated with the figure of the seducer and in his twenties planned to devote his life
to the creation of a body of work which would examine moral, intellectual, social and sexual relations between women and men. To this end, he would transform his life into a laboratory
where real-life experiences would become the main source of reference. Roché’s diary spans sixty years and abounds in tales of seduction. However, the most intense and captivating
intrigue of seduction and betrayal in his diary, is his relationship with Helen Hessel. At the start of their affair, Roché suggested that she too should keep a diary of the maelstrom of passion into which they were plunged. Written in French, German and English, Helen Hessel’s diary captures the drama of seduction and functions on several levels: realistic, visionary, absorbed in her thoughts and emotions and yet critical of herself and others. A juxtaposed reading of the two diaries generates a fascinatingly dense texture, revealing the mechanisms
of seduction at play. The counterpoint created by these two interdependent voices becomes ever more complex as one becomes aware of the intertextual references that contribute to the emerging polyphony of recorded life and love.
Bitterkomix is a controversial underground comic in Afrikaans. This article explores the importance, in translation, of understanding the social and cultural context of the source language in order to capture the essential meaning and impact of the original text in its translation. In the case of the translation of Bitterkomix into French, the translator had to bear in mind the position and function of the language in the broader scope of Afrikaans protest literature and, consequently, make certain decisions with regard to his own perception of the role of the translator as bringing the text to the reader (or the reader to the text) in the terms of Schleiermacher. Furthermore, the article explores specific themes that occur in the Bitterkomix texts and how their interpretation may influence strategies and considerations that relate specifically to the translation of comics. The importance of stylistic differences and their influence on translation are explored. Other issues that are examined include the translation of names, intertextual references and retranslation. The article calls into question the widely accepted notion that the translator should always translate into his first language, particularly with regard to minority languages.
in
Jahrbuch für Internationale Germanistik
Henri Pierre Roché (1879–1959), the author of Jules et Jim, has been called a general introducer, an exemplary amateur, a collector of women and art and one of the most prolific diarists and active lovers in recorded history. Author of a collection of vignettes about Don Juan, Roché was fascinated with the figure of the seducer and in his twenties planned to devote his life
to the creation of a body of work which would examine moral, intellectual, social and sexual relations between women and men. To this end, he would transform his life into a laboratory
where real-life experiences would become the main source of reference. Roché’s diary spans sixty years and abounds in tales of seduction. However, the most intense and captivating
intrigue of seduction and betrayal in his diary, is his relationship with Helen Hessel. At the start of their affair, Roché suggested that she too should keep a diary of the maelstrom of passion into which they were plunged. Written in French, German and English, Helen Hessel’s diary captures the drama of seduction and functions on several levels: realistic, visionary, absorbed in her thoughts and emotions and yet critical of herself and others. A juxtaposed reading of the two diaries generates a fascinatingly dense texture, revealing the mechanisms
of seduction at play. The counterpoint created by these two interdependent voices becomes ever more complex as one becomes aware of the intertextual references that contribute to the emerging polyphony of recorded life and love.
Bitterkomix is a controversial underground comic in Afrikaans. This article explores the importance, in translation, of understanding the social and cultural context of the source language in order to capture the essential meaning and impact of the original text in its translation. In the case of the translation of Bitterkomix into French, the translator had to bear in mind the position and function of the language in the broader scope of Afrikaans protest literature and, consequently, make certain decisions with regard to his own perception of the role of the translator as bringing the text to the reader (or the reader to the text) in the terms of Schleiermacher. Furthermore, the article explores specific themes that occur in the Bitterkomix texts and how their interpretation may influence strategies and considerations that relate specifically to the translation of comics. The importance of stylistic differences and their influence on translation are explored. Other issues that are examined include the translation of names, intertextual references and retranslation. The article calls into question the widely accepted notion that the translator should always translate into his first language, particularly with regard to minority languages.
The dissertation consists of a detailed biographical study which covers Roché’s formative years until the publication of his first literary works (1879 – 1907). A biographical summary of the remainder of his life is followed by a chapter on his first major publication, Don Juan et... , which has not formed the subject of any literary analysis prior to this. The third chapter consists of an interpretation of Roché’s novel Deux Anglaises et le Continent as both a work of initiation and an initiation to his work, illustrating how it introduces themes that recur in two further novels, Jules et Jim and Victor.
Through his way of life, Roché’s life becomes his most extensive and involved œuvre. This dissertation traces the roots of his propensity for dispersion and lack of unity, to his childhood and specifically to the form of education advocated by his mother Clara Roché. This attribute surfaces again in Roché’s keeping of a personal diary, spanning almost sixty years, in which he compulsively observes and notes his own behaviour and that of those around him. The diary emphasises and prepares the fragmentary, compressed style and open-ended writing which would later become Roché’s trademark.
Abandoning his studies in political science, Roché sets out on a career which has much in common with the lives dilettante intellectuals fashion for themselves towards the end of the 19th century. His first human project, formulated around 1902, is an attempt to understand the mystery of erotic love and the possibilities of sexual relationships. To this end, he transforms his own life into a kind of laboratory. At a time when France has hostile inclinations towards Britain and Germany, Roché undertakes extensive journeys to these countries, learning the languages and opening himself to literary, social and philosophical influences. The dissertation pays particular attention to the analysis of these influences, an area which has not yet been covered by any other research. Through a detailed interpretation of Don Juan et..., the nature of seduction and desire is examined in the context of the literary myth of Don Juan and the association between fragmentation and desire is emphasised.
In conclusion, the association between desire and its written expression is examined and found to be reflected in Roché’s fragmentary writing, through which he appears to find a solution/ compromise in the form of voluntary incompleteness compensating for his failure in the impossible quest for unity.
©University of Pretoria 2005