Translator as Polemicist: The Clash of Paradigms in the First Polish Edition of Said’s Orientalism

The article analyzes the paratextual activity of Witold Kalinowski, author first Polish translation Edward Said’s Orientalism (1991), paying special attention to his polemical remarks and their relation vision scientific, theoretical discourse. translator does not strive for invisibility. On contrary, he uses footnotes brackets inserted in main text comment on different aspects work. He signals problems ensuing from differences between languages cultures, explains nature linguistic difficulties justifies own solutions. also takes role editor commentator, explaining allusions, supplementing discussion with additional information, anticipating readers’ doubts about certain facts that might sound suspicious, even inserting bracketed additions clarifications which suggest original is unclear or imprecise. Finally, Kalinowski overtly expresses attitude: provides parts sic! annotation (thus suggesting wrong) adds where argues what sees as author’s dubious far-fetched interpretations. Translator’s Note gives insight into disagreement translator. Explaining why a difficult book translate, enumerates its troubling features: combination types discourse large number accents, due fully scientific. moment book’s publication such qualification could have been result then scarce presence poststructuralist thought cultural studies humanities. However, analysis Kalinowski’s articles well doctoral thesis 1980s shows both awareness currents influenced critical attitude towards Marxist thought. It aversion Marxist-inspired interpretations – personal methodological conviction widespread early post-communist Poland seems be reason clash