Die 逃走 aus der 母語 – Flucht aus der Muttersprache

Auf den Spuren der Mehrsprachigkeit im Streben nach Freiheit bei Tawada Yōko

Abstract

This article deals with multilingualism and the concept of exophony in literary works by Tawada Yōko. By close reading of her German essay “Von der Muttersprache zur Sprachmutter“, published in Talisman (1996), and the Japanese essay “Dakāru”, published in Ekusofonī: Bogo no soto e deru tabi (2003), this article aims to identify Tawada’s understanding of language and analyzes the language she uses in her literature. The analysis shows that Tawada’s critical approach towards language, culture and identity created reflexive and multilingual texts which raise awareness for the complexity of ‘language’ and the relationship between language and the outside world.