Empire of Language: Toward a Critique of (Post)colonial Expression

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EMPIRE OF LANGUAGE EMPIRE OF LANGUAGE TOWARD A CRITIQUE OF (POST) COLONIAL EXPRESSION Laurent Dubreuil Translated from the French by David Fieni CORNELL UNIVERSITY PRESS Ithaca and London Originally published under the title L’Empire du langage, by Laurent Dubreuil. © 2008 by Hermann, 6 Rue Labrouste, 75015 Paris, France, www.editions-hermann.fr. English edition copyright © 2013 by Cornell University All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in a review, this book, or parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher. For information, address Cornell University Press, Sage House, 512 East State Street, Ithaca, New York 14850. First published 2013 by Cornell University Press Printed in the United States of America Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Dubreuil, Laurent, author. [Empire du langage. English] Empire of language : toward a critique of (post)colonial expression / Laurent Dubreuil ; translated from the French by David Fieni. pages cm Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-8014-5056-3 (cloth : alk. paper) 1. French literature—French-speaking countries—History and criticism. 2. French language—Political aspects. 3. Postcolonialism. 4. French-speaking countries— History. I. Fieni, David, translator. II. Dubreuil, Laurent. Empire du langage. Translation of: III. Title. PQ3897.D8313 2013 840.9'358—dc23 2012048481 Cornell University Press strives to use environmentally responsible suppliers and materials to the fullest extent possible in the publishing of its books. Such materials include vegetable-based, low-VOC inks and acid-free papers that are recycled, totally chlorine-free, or partly composed of nonwood fibers. For further information, visit our website at www.cornellpress.cornell.edu. Cloth printing 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 ...