MEANING, TRANSLATION AND CROSS-CULTURAL  COMMUNICATION: AN AFRICAN PHILOSOPHICAL  DEBATE

Philip Ogo  Ujomu

doi:10.31648/hip.8520

Pubblicato il: 2022-12-061

N. 28 (2022)

MEANING, TRANSLATION AND CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION: AN AFRICAN PHILOSOPHICAL DEBATE

Philip Ogo Ujomu

Humanistyka i Przyrodoznawstwo

Sezione: Articoli

https://doi.org/10.31648/hip.8520

Abstract

The subject to be interrogated is the problem of the extent to which differences in meaning across cultural experiences often affect translation and the chances of human communication. This is particularly significant in a world currently plagued by oppression, domination, colonialism, conflicts, prejudices, intolerance, discrimination, inequity and misconceptions.
We are examining the issue of the perception that difference is a threat to cooperation, harmony and dialogue among peoples and institutions of the world. The aim of this study is to philosophically examine this idea and to show that cultural difference could be a tool for building up a world where the much required values of harmony, respect for others, reciprocity and cooperation can be established using philosophical arguments by prominent or eminent African philosophers such as Wiredu and Diop among
others. Methodologically, this study is necessary because there is a need to examine the philosophical dimensions of this issue from an African philosophical viewpoint. Wiredu pushes the argument from cultural universals while Diop makes a case for a cultural and historical basis of difference. Our key finding has been to show that there are some key philosophical theories
that go beyond the views of Wiredu and Diop among others. The idea is to anchor difference on a set of moral values needed for establishing enduring intercultural dialogue on an ethical foundation. The work identifies for instance, tolerance, mutual recognition, compromise and human dignity as pillars of enduring mutually respectful intercultural communication.

Scarica file

PDF (Język Polski)

Regole di citazione

Ujomu, P. O. . (2022). MEANING, TRANSLATION AND CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION: AN AFRICAN PHILOSOPHICAL DEBATE. Humanistyka I Przyrodoznawstwo, (28), 231–246. https://doi.org/10.31648/hip.8520

##plugins.themes.libcom.share##

Licenza

Questo lavoro è fornito con la licenza Creative Commons Attribuzione - Non commerciale 4.0 Internazionale.

Riferimenti bibliografici

Agrawal M.M. (1988), Morals and the value of human life, [in:] African Philosophy: An Anthology, E.C. Eze (ed.), Blackwell, Massachusetts: 146–150.
Google Scholar

Ayer A. (1973), Metaphysics and common Sense, The Macmillan Press, London.
Google Scholar

Biakolo E. (1998), Categories of Cross-Cultural Cognition, [in:] The African Philosophy reader, P.H. Coetzee (ed.), Routledge, London: 1–13.
Google Scholar

Brunner A., Raemer S. (1937), Fundamental Questions of philosophy, Herder, London.
Google Scholar

Davidson D. (1984), Inquiries into truth And Meaning, Clarendon Press, Oxford.
Google Scholar

Diop Ch.A. (1974), The African origin of Civilization; Myth or Reality, Lawrence Hill, New York.
Google Scholar

Diop Ch.A. (1987), Black Africa: The economic and cultural basis for a federated state, Lawrence Hill, Chicago.
Google Scholar

Diop, Ch.A. (1991), Civilization or Barbarism, Lawrence Hill, New York.
Google Scholar

Etzioni A. (1997), The end Of Cross-Cultural relativism, “Alternatives” 22 (2):
Crossref
Google Scholar

–189.
Google Scholar

Frankena W. (1973), Ethics, Prentice-Hall, New Jersey.
Google Scholar

Hartley P. (1999), Interpersonal Communication, Second edition, Routledge, London.
Google Scholar

Idowu B. (1962), Olodumare: God in Yoruba Belief, Longman, London.
Google Scholar

Martin R. (1987), The meaning of language, MIT Press, Cambridge.
Google Scholar

Mbiti J. (1969), African Religions and Philosophy, Heinemann, London.
Google Scholar

Mbiti J. (1975), An Introduction to African religions, Heinemann, London.
Google Scholar

M’Bow A. (1992), Opening speech-Cultural identity and development, [in:] African Education and Identity, A. Irele (ed.), Hans Zell London, London: 11–13.
Google Scholar

Nwala U. (1985), Igbo Philosophy, Lantern Books, Lagos.
Google Scholar

Oladipo O. (1996), Philosophy and the African Experience: The contributions of Kwasi Wiredu, Hope, Ibadan.
Google Scholar

Quine W.V.O. (1961), From A Logical point Of View, Harvard University Press, Cambridge.
Google Scholar

Sarbaugh L.E. (1979), Intercultural Communication, Hayden, New Jersey.
Google Scholar

Singer M. (1989), Value Judgements and Normative Claims, [in:] Key Themes in Philosophy, P. Griffiths (ed.), Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: 145–172.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Sogolo G. (1987), Translational Problems: meaning and reality in African thought, “Ultimate Reality” 10 (1): 65–73.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Sogolo G. (1993), Foundations of African Philosophy, Ibadan University Press, Ibadan.
Google Scholar

“This Day” (Lagos Nigeria) 16 January 2000.
Google Scholar

Titus H. (1970), Living issues in Philosophy, Van Nostrand, New York.
Google Scholar

Wiredu K. (1992), Problems in Africa’s Self-Definition in the Contemporary World, [in:] Person and Community Ghanaian Philosophical Studies, K. Gyekye (ed.), 1, Washington D.C. The Council for Research in Values and Philosophy: 59–70.
Google Scholar

Wiredu K. (1995), Post-Colonial African Philosophy: Some Comments, [in:] Conceptual Decolonization in African Philosophy: 4 Essays, O.T. Oladipo (ed.). Hope, Ibadan: 11–21.
Google Scholar

Wiredu K. (1996), Cultural Universals and Particulars: An African Perspective, Indiana University Press, Indianapolis.
Google Scholar

Wiredu K. (1996), Cultural Universals and Particulars, Routledge, London.
Google Scholar

Wiredu K. (1998), Are There ‘Cultural Universals’ ?, [in:] The African Philosophy
Google Scholar

Reader, P.H. Coetzee (ed.), Routledge, London: 31–40
Google Scholar