Monolingualism of the Other The Prosthesis of Origin

"Derrida has produced a text which takes philosophy and autobiography into the closest possible proximity; yet the result is something far more significant than the personal reminiscences of a philosopher."--"Times Literary Supplement"

I have but one language yet that language is not mine. This book intertwines theoretical reflection with historical and cultural particularity to enunciate, then analyze this conundrum in terms of the author s own relationship to the French language. The book operates on three levels. At the first level, a theoretical inquiry investigates the relation between individuals and their own language. It also explores the structural limits, desires, and interdictions inherent in such possession, as well as the corporeal aspect of language (its accents, tones, and rhythms) and the question of the countability of languages (that is, their discreteness or factual givenness).