The Violence of Hospitality and Exophonic Practices

Abstract

This paper discusses the notion of linguistic hospitality and its often-overlooked relationship with violence. While hospitality and violence are commonly perceived as opposing phenomena, this contribution reveals their intricate entanglement. The first part of the article examines key theoretical perspectives on hospitality, drawing on the works of Benveniste, Ricoeur, and Derrida. Particular emphasis is placed on Paul Ricoeur’s notion of linguistic hospitality and its implications. The connection between violence and hospitality within the realm of language is further elucidated through an analysis of Walter Benjamin’s reflections on translation and communication. In the final section, the paper investigates alternative practices of translational experience, defined as exophony, which challenge and go beyond the model of hospitality.