Differance

Definition

Differance is a term coined by Jacques Derrida that signifies the dual concepts of difference and deferral in meaning. It highlights how meaning is not fixed but rather constantly deferred through an endless chain of signifiers, where words and concepts derive their significance from their differences with one another rather than from any inherent meaning. This term challenges traditional notions of language and meaning, asserting that interpretation is always subject to change.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Differance combines the meanings of 'difference' and 'deferral', suggesting that meanings are both produced through differences among words and are postponed in their ultimate resolution.
2. The concept challenges the idea of a stable, fixed meaning, emphasizing that language is inherently unstable and open to multiple interpretations.
3. Differance underlines the relational nature of signs, where understanding one concept requires understanding its differences from other concepts.
4. Derrida's term reflects his critique of logocentrism, the belief in a primary truth or meaning that can be accessed directly through language.
5. Differance plays a crucial role in literary theory as it highlights how texts can be read in various ways depending on context, reader interpretation, and cultural background.

Review Questions

• How does the concept of differance challenge traditional ideas about meaning in language?
  • Differance challenges traditional ideas about meaning by asserting that meanings are not fixed or inherent within words but are instead produced through their differences with other words. This means that understanding language involves recognizing an ongoing process of deferral in which meanings are always contingent and subject to change. Rather than being able to pinpoint a singular meaning, differance suggests that language creates a web of relationships that continuously shapes our interpretations.
• In what ways does differance relate to Derrida's broader critique of logocentrism?
  • Differance relates to Derrida's critique of logocentrism by demonstrating how reliance on fixed meanings undermines the fluidity inherent in language. Logocentrism posits that there exists a primary truth or meaning accessible through language, but differance reveals that such access is illusory. Meaning is never fully present; it is always deferred and constructed through differences among signs, which leads to an understanding of texts as inherently unstable and open to multiple interpretations.
• Evaluate the implications of differance for literary analysis and interpretation in post-structuralist thought.
  • The implications of differance for literary analysis in post-structuralist thought are profound, as it shifts the focus from seeking definitive meanings within texts to exploring the multiplicity of interpretations. It invites readers to engage with texts as dynamic entities shaped by context, cultural background, and reader interaction. This approach fosters an appreciation for ambiguity and complexity in literature, allowing for richer discussions around themes, symbols, and characters while recognizing that every reading is influenced by an interplay of differences rather than a singular truth.

Related terms

Deconstruction: A critical approach developed by Derrida that seeks to uncover and challenge the assumptions underlying texts, revealing contradictions and the instability of meaning.

Signifier: In semiotics, a signifier is a word or symbol that conveys meaning, while its significance relies on its relation to other signifiers.

Post-structuralism: An intellectual movement that emerged as a response to structuralism, emphasizing the fluidity of meaning and the complexity of language and interpretation.