The following thesis deals with the problem of self-identity in Ingeborg Bachmann’s narrative cycle Das dreißigste Jahr (The Thirtieth Year) and discusses the terms and conditions of developing one’s own, authentic identity. Until now, this early cycle has been analysed with an emphasis on either gender studies or philosophical perspectives. These analyses mainly address the utopian concept of language or the boundary between that which can be said, and ‘the mystical’ beyond this border. To give the question of identity a new perspective, this thesis applies existentialist theories from the field of philosophy to the narratives and determines the connection between self-identity, world, society and language. Gender theories, as well as philosophical-mystical speculations, are mainly excluded in the search for a new answer to the old question: How is a person’s identity formed? The main questions that are addressed in the thesis include: Is it possible to be oneself and how? How can we create our own identity despite the image of ourselves presented to us by others? And are we capable of constructing our own identity with the language available to us? In the first part of the thesis, I will provide a theoretical foundation, the philosophical background that underpins my analysis. After clarifying the direction of my study, the questions it will address and describing the method I will use in my analysis, I include a definition section that gives clear explanations about the key concepts of identity and existentialism which pertain to my analysis. This is followed by a basic philosophical introduction that explains the main concepts used in this work, including: Being thrown into the world, the quest for self-identity, the relationship between the “self” and the “other” and the meaning of language. These concepts are taken from the existentialist philosophy of Heidegger and Sartre. The next section gives an overview of the research to date concerning the most important works on the topics of “identity” and “language” in Ingeborg Bachmann’s prose, with a focus on the cycle Das dreißigste Jahr and positions the thesis in the context of this current research. The main analysis of the primary work applies the philosophical theories to a close analysis of the narratives, focussing not just on single narratives, but on aspects of them all. After a short overview of the contents of each narrative it analyses these aspects under five main topics: The condition of the self as being “thrown into the world”; the relation between self and society; the problem of language; the attempt to break free from society and language; and finally the “reconciliation” between society and a person’s self-identity within the framework of world, language and society. The main emphasis in the results focuses on the alienating effect that society as well as language has on the self, and the struggle of the self to achieve an independent and authentic self-identity. This thesis goes beyond the existing research on the narratives by addressing aspects of the self within a given framework other than gender theories, role-specific arguments or philosophical-mystical explanations. Its analysis of the works from an existentialist point of view, i. e. Sartre and Heidegger, provides a new perspective on what are essentially philosophical texts.

The following thesis deals with the problem of self-identity in Ingeborg Bachmann’s narrative cycle Das dreißigste Jahr (The Thirtieth Year) and discusses the terms and conditions of developing one’s own, authentic identity. Until now, this early cycle has been analysed with an emphasis on either gender studies or philosophical perspectives. These analyses mainly address the utopian concept of language or the boundary between that which can be said, and ‘the mystical’ beyond this border. To give the question of identity a new perspective, this thesis applies existentialist theories from the field of philosophy to the narratives and determines the connection between self-identity, world, society and language. Gender theories, as well as philosophical-mystical speculations, are mainly excluded in the search for a new answer to the old question: How is a person’s identity formed? The main questions that are addressed in the thesis include: Is it possible to be oneself and how? How can we create our own identity despite the image of ourselves presented to us by others? And are we capable of constructing our own identity with the language available to us? In the first part of the thesis, I will provide a theoretical foundation, the philosophical background that underpins my analysis. After clarifying the direction of my study, the questions it will address and describing the method I will use in my analysis, I include a definition section that gives clear explanations about the key concepts of identity and existentialism which pertain to my analysis. This is followed by a basic philosophical introduction that explains the main concepts used in this work, including: Being thrown into the world, the quest for self-identity, the relationship between the “self” and the “other” and the meaning of language. These concepts are taken from the existentialist philosophy of Heidegger and Sartre. The next section gives an overview of the research to date concerning the most important works on the topics of “identity” and “language” in Ingeborg Bachmann’s prose, with a focus on the cycle Das dreißigste Jahr and positions the thesis in the context of this current research. The main analysis of the primary work applies the philosophical theories to a close analysis of the narratives, focussing not just on single narratives, but on aspects of them all. After a short overview of the contents of each narrative it analyses these aspects under five main topics: The condition of the self as being “thrown into the world”; the relation between self and society; the problem of language; the attempt to break free from society and language; and finally the “reconciliation” between society and a person’s self-identity within the framework of world, language and society. The main emphasis in the results focuses on the alienating effect that society as well as language has on the self, and the struggle of the self to achieve an independent and authentic self-identity. This thesis goes beyond the existing research on the narratives by addressing aspects of the self within a given framework other than gender theories, role-specific arguments or philosophical-mystical explanations. Its analysis of the works from an existentialist point of view, i. e. Sartre and Heidegger, provides a new perspective on what are essentially philosophical texts.

Taking its depature point in a translation of a play by a Czech playwright and philosopher, Václav Havel, into Swahili, the article strives at a cross-cultural comparison of a pivotal concept of Havel`s thought, lidství (`humanity´), and an equally central concept of Swahili moral and philosophical thought, utu. The basis of this copmparison is, on the Czech side, an explanation of Havel`s concept and its grounding in existentialist philosophy. The Swahili side is presented in a two-step procedure. First, the semantic field of `humanity´in the Swahili language, comprising utu and several concepts related to it (especially ubinadamu), is analyzed. Second, the concepts belonging to the semantic field of utu are traced in the development of Swahili literature, as a prominent representative of intellecual discourses in the Swahili culture.

Makala haya yanashughulikia maswahli ya udhanaishi katika fasihi ya Kiswahili. Makala yanalinganisha riwaya mbili, Mgeni ya mwandishi wa Kifaransa anayeitwa Albert Camus na Kichwamachi ya mwandishi wa Kiwahili, Euphrase Kezilahabi, na kuonyesha jinsi riwaya hizo zinayofanana na zinavyotofautiana. Kwa vile Kichwamaji inafanana na Mgeni, ni sahihi humwita Kezilahabi mwandishi ya udhanaishi, lakini kuna tofauti nyingi pia baina ya riwaya hizo mbili. Tofauti moja ni kwamba Albert Camus anamtazama mtu peke yake na hali yake iliyotengwa kabisa na watu wengine, na Kezilahabi, licha ya mtu peke yake, anaizingatia jamii nzima na hali yake vilevile. Tofauti hii ni tokeo la sifa za communalism katika mawazo Kiafrika ya kimapokeo yanayotilia mkazo jamaa na jami, siyo mtu peke yake. / This article analyses and compares the the two writings Kichwamaji by Euphrase Kezilahabi and L´etranger by Albert Camus. Written in the tradition of existentialism, the two writings have many similarities but also differ in some important aspects. While Camus sees the individual just by itself, Kezilahabi also includes the whole family and is writing with it in the tradition of the african communalism.

Taking its depature point in a translation of a play by a Czech playwright and philosopher, Václav Havel, into Swahili, the article strives at a cross-cultural comparison of a pivotal concept of Havel`s thought, lidství (`humanity´), and an equally central concept of Swahili moral and philosophical thought, utu. The basis of this copmparison is, on the Czech side, an explanation of Havel`s concept and its grounding in existentialist philosophy. The Swahili side is presented in a two-step procedure. First, the semantic field of `humanity´in the Swahili language, comprising utu and several concepts related to it (especially ubinadamu), is analyzed. Second, the concepts belonging to the semantic field of utu are traced in the development of Swahili literature, as a prominent representative of intellecual discourses in the Swahili culture.

Zugl.: Fribourg, Univ., Diss., 2008

Makala haya yanashughulikia maswahli ya udhanaishi katika fasihi ya Kiswahili. Makala yanalinganisha riwaya mbili, Mgeni ya mwandishi wa Kifaransa anayeitwa Albert Camus na Kichwamachi ya mwandishi wa Kiwahili, Euphrase Kezilahabi, na kuonyesha jinsi riwaya hizo zinayofanana na zinavyotofautiana. Kwa vile Kichwamaji inafanana na Mgeni, ni sahihi humwita Kezilahabi mwandishi ya udhanaishi, lakini kuna tofauti nyingi pia baina ya riwaya hizo mbili. Tofauti moja ni kwamba Albert Camus anamtazama mtu peke yake na hali yake iliyotengwa kabisa na watu wengine, na Kezilahabi, licha ya mtu peke yake, anaizingatia jamii nzima na hali yake vilevile. Tofauti hii ni tokeo la sifa za communalism katika mawazo Kiafrika ya kimapokeo yanayotilia mkazo jamaa na jami, siyo mtu peke yake. / This article analyses and compares the the two writings Kichwamaji by Euphrase Kezilahabi and L´etranger by Albert Camus. Written in the tradition of existentialism, the two writings have many similarities but also differ in some important aspects. While Camus sees the individual just by itself, Kezilahabi also includes the whole family and is writing with it in the tradition of the african communalism.

Makala hii inachambua riwaya ya pili ya mwandishi maarufu wa Kiswahili, Euphrase Kezilahabi (*1944) iitwayo Kichwamaji (1974). Inajaribu kuzingatia mikondo miwili ya uchambuzi yaani inajadili kwa ufupi nadharia ipi au mkondo upi wa kimawazo unafaa zaidi katika kuichambua riwaya hiyo: udhanaishi au ufeministi. Je, inawezekana kuunganisha yote mawili? / In this essay, I would like to analyse the novel Kichwamaji (‘Empty-head’; 1974) by the well-known Tanzanian writer Euphrase Kezilahabi against the background of two philosophical theories: existentialism and feminism. I will first discuss existentialism and the existentialist elements in the novel. Then I will present feminist theory and focus on the female characters in Kichwamaji. I will argue that a feminist reading of the novel is impossible due to its predominant existentialist character.

Makala hii inachambua riwaya ya pili ya mwandishi maarufu wa Kiswahili, Euphrase Kezilahabi (*1944) iitwayo Kichwamaji (1974). Inajaribu kuzingatia mikondo miwili ya uchambuzi yaani inajadili kwa ufupi nadharia ipi au mkondo upi wa kimawazo unafaa zaidi katika kuichambua riwaya hiyo: udhanaishi au ufeministi. Je, inawezekana kuunganisha yote mawili? / In this essay, I would like to analyse the novel Kichwamaji (‘Empty-head’; 1974) by the well-known Tanzanian writer Euphrase Kezilahabi against the background of two philosophical theories: existentialism and feminism. I will first discuss existentialism and the existentialist elements in the novel. Then I will present feminist theory and focus on the female characters in Kichwamaji. I will argue that a feminist reading of the novel is impossible due to its predominant existentialist character.