Could Nietzsche read English and French?












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Nietzsche often criticized English philosophers and praised French philosophers. Could he read English and French? Or did he read translations of English and French philosophical writings?










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    Nietzsche often criticized English philosophers and praised French philosophers. Could he read English and French? Or did he read translations of English and French philosophical writings?










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      Nietzsche often criticized English philosophers and praised French philosophers. Could he read English and French? Or did he read translations of English and French philosophical writings?










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      Nietzsche often criticized English philosophers and praised French philosophers. Could he read English and French? Or did he read translations of English and French philosophical writings?







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      asked Nov 12 at 2:45









      Josh W.

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          According to the Nietzsche Channel, Nietzsche read Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground in a French translation by E. Halpérine et Ch. Morice.



          The Nietzsche Library at the Nietzsche Channel contains a reconstruction of his library. This collection lists plays by Shakespeare in English along with translations in German. The works of Shelley were in German translation. He had a copy of Francis Galton's Inquiry into human faculty and development.



          From the above, I assume he could read French. Searching this reconstruction of his library may provide suggestions about the extent he was familiar with either French or English.





          Reference



          The Nietzsche Channel http://www.thenietzschechannel.com/






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            Frank Hubery has answered the question for Nietzsche's knowledge of French. I'd add the following extract from Nietzsche's April 1875 letter to Marie Baumgartner :




            He himself confirms the shakiness of his French in a letter to Marie
            Baumgartner of April 1875, when he thanks her for correcting his mistranslation
            from Montaigne in Schopenhauer as Educator: “To the discoverer of my mistake
            many thanks; you see my French is in rather a sorry state, and before I idealize
            Montaigne I should at least understand him properly”. (Duncan Large, 'Nietzsche and/in/on Translation', Journal of Nietzsche Studies , Vol. 43, No. 1, Special Issue: Proceedings from the North American Nietzsche Society (Spring 2012), pp. 57-67 : 59.) If Nietzsche's French was in a 'sorry state' he must have had an elementary acquaintance with the language.




            One might note Brobjer's comment :




            On the
            whole, Nietzsche's French was such that he did not read fiction in French before about 1880. ((Thomas H. Brobjer, 'Nietzsche's Reading and Private Library, 1885-1889', Journal of the History of Ideas, Vol. 58, No. 4 (Oct., 1997), pp. 663-693 : 666.)




            As to English the following extract is one piece of evidence :




            Towards a Genealogy of Morals (1887) is to a large extent a response to Nietzsche's reading of and about "English psychologists," including Rée; and in the history of law (his library contains ten books within this field
            and the majority of these are annotated by Nietzsche). (Thomas H. Brobjer: 673.)




            '...reading of "English psychologists"' points tentatively to some knowledge of English but this quote suffers from the rather serious defect that Paul Rée (1849–1901) was a German, not an English, psychologist.



            English words do occur in Nietzsche's writing, of which Duncan Large observes that :




            ... the linguistic diversity is at times dazzlingly
            extreme. Foreign words abound—mostly Latin and French but also ancient
            Greek, Italian, English, Spanish, Provençal, Sanskrit. (Duncan Large, 'Nietzsche and/in/on Translation', Journal of Nietzsche Studies , Vol. 43, No. 1, Special Issue: Proceedings from the North American Nietzsche Society (Spring 2012), pp. 57-67 : 60.)




            However, knowledge of individual words does not demonstrate any considerable knowledge of the language.



            Overall I accept the judgement of Duncan Large :




            As an academic classicist
            Nietzsche himself translated between German, Greek, and Latin, but his command
            of modern foreign languages was relatively unimpressive, and he viewed
            language learning as a necessary evil, looking forward to the time when a new
            lingua franca would obviate the need for language learning or translation at all. (Large: 57.)




            If Nietzsche did tackle English it is likely to have been with the help of a dictionary. There is, so far as I know, no indication that he read or wrote the language with command or fluency.






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              2 Answers
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              5














              According to the Nietzsche Channel, Nietzsche read Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground in a French translation by E. Halpérine et Ch. Morice.



              The Nietzsche Library at the Nietzsche Channel contains a reconstruction of his library. This collection lists plays by Shakespeare in English along with translations in German. The works of Shelley were in German translation. He had a copy of Francis Galton's Inquiry into human faculty and development.



              From the above, I assume he could read French. Searching this reconstruction of his library may provide suggestions about the extent he was familiar with either French or English.





              Reference



              The Nietzsche Channel http://www.thenietzschechannel.com/






              share|improve this answer




























                5














                According to the Nietzsche Channel, Nietzsche read Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground in a French translation by E. Halpérine et Ch. Morice.



                The Nietzsche Library at the Nietzsche Channel contains a reconstruction of his library. This collection lists plays by Shakespeare in English along with translations in German. The works of Shelley were in German translation. He had a copy of Francis Galton's Inquiry into human faculty and development.



                From the above, I assume he could read French. Searching this reconstruction of his library may provide suggestions about the extent he was familiar with either French or English.





                Reference



                The Nietzsche Channel http://www.thenietzschechannel.com/






                share|improve this answer


























                  5












                  5








                  5






                  According to the Nietzsche Channel, Nietzsche read Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground in a French translation by E. Halpérine et Ch. Morice.



                  The Nietzsche Library at the Nietzsche Channel contains a reconstruction of his library. This collection lists plays by Shakespeare in English along with translations in German. The works of Shelley were in German translation. He had a copy of Francis Galton's Inquiry into human faculty and development.



                  From the above, I assume he could read French. Searching this reconstruction of his library may provide suggestions about the extent he was familiar with either French or English.





                  Reference



                  The Nietzsche Channel http://www.thenietzschechannel.com/






                  share|improve this answer














                  According to the Nietzsche Channel, Nietzsche read Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground in a French translation by E. Halpérine et Ch. Morice.



                  The Nietzsche Library at the Nietzsche Channel contains a reconstruction of his library. This collection lists plays by Shakespeare in English along with translations in German. The works of Shelley were in German translation. He had a copy of Francis Galton's Inquiry into human faculty and development.



                  From the above, I assume he could read French. Searching this reconstruction of his library may provide suggestions about the extent he was familiar with either French or English.





                  Reference



                  The Nietzsche Channel http://www.thenietzschechannel.com/







                  share|improve this answer














                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer








                  edited Nov 12 at 9:38









                  Geoffrey Thomas

                  23.2k22091




                  23.2k22091










                  answered Nov 12 at 6:54









                  Frank Hubeny

                  6,69951344




                  6,69951344























                      5














                      Frank Hubery has answered the question for Nietzsche's knowledge of French. I'd add the following extract from Nietzsche's April 1875 letter to Marie Baumgartner :




                      He himself confirms the shakiness of his French in a letter to Marie
                      Baumgartner of April 1875, when he thanks her for correcting his mistranslation
                      from Montaigne in Schopenhauer as Educator: “To the discoverer of my mistake
                      many thanks; you see my French is in rather a sorry state, and before I idealize
                      Montaigne I should at least understand him properly”. (Duncan Large, 'Nietzsche and/in/on Translation', Journal of Nietzsche Studies , Vol. 43, No. 1, Special Issue: Proceedings from the North American Nietzsche Society (Spring 2012), pp. 57-67 : 59.) If Nietzsche's French was in a 'sorry state' he must have had an elementary acquaintance with the language.




                      One might note Brobjer's comment :




                      On the
                      whole, Nietzsche's French was such that he did not read fiction in French before about 1880. ((Thomas H. Brobjer, 'Nietzsche's Reading and Private Library, 1885-1889', Journal of the History of Ideas, Vol. 58, No. 4 (Oct., 1997), pp. 663-693 : 666.)




                      As to English the following extract is one piece of evidence :




                      Towards a Genealogy of Morals (1887) is to a large extent a response to Nietzsche's reading of and about "English psychologists," including Rée; and in the history of law (his library contains ten books within this field
                      and the majority of these are annotated by Nietzsche). (Thomas H. Brobjer: 673.)




                      '...reading of "English psychologists"' points tentatively to some knowledge of English but this quote suffers from the rather serious defect that Paul Rée (1849–1901) was a German, not an English, psychologist.



                      English words do occur in Nietzsche's writing, of which Duncan Large observes that :




                      ... the linguistic diversity is at times dazzlingly
                      extreme. Foreign words abound—mostly Latin and French but also ancient
                      Greek, Italian, English, Spanish, Provençal, Sanskrit. (Duncan Large, 'Nietzsche and/in/on Translation', Journal of Nietzsche Studies , Vol. 43, No. 1, Special Issue: Proceedings from the North American Nietzsche Society (Spring 2012), pp. 57-67 : 60.)




                      However, knowledge of individual words does not demonstrate any considerable knowledge of the language.



                      Overall I accept the judgement of Duncan Large :




                      As an academic classicist
                      Nietzsche himself translated between German, Greek, and Latin, but his command
                      of modern foreign languages was relatively unimpressive, and he viewed
                      language learning as a necessary evil, looking forward to the time when a new
                      lingua franca would obviate the need for language learning or translation at all. (Large: 57.)




                      If Nietzsche did tackle English it is likely to have been with the help of a dictionary. There is, so far as I know, no indication that he read or wrote the language with command or fluency.






                      share|improve this answer


























                        5














                        Frank Hubery has answered the question for Nietzsche's knowledge of French. I'd add the following extract from Nietzsche's April 1875 letter to Marie Baumgartner :




                        He himself confirms the shakiness of his French in a letter to Marie
                        Baumgartner of April 1875, when he thanks her for correcting his mistranslation
                        from Montaigne in Schopenhauer as Educator: “To the discoverer of my mistake
                        many thanks; you see my French is in rather a sorry state, and before I idealize
                        Montaigne I should at least understand him properly”. (Duncan Large, 'Nietzsche and/in/on Translation', Journal of Nietzsche Studies , Vol. 43, No. 1, Special Issue: Proceedings from the North American Nietzsche Society (Spring 2012), pp. 57-67 : 59.) If Nietzsche's French was in a 'sorry state' he must have had an elementary acquaintance with the language.




                        One might note Brobjer's comment :




                        On the
                        whole, Nietzsche's French was such that he did not read fiction in French before about 1880. ((Thomas H. Brobjer, 'Nietzsche's Reading and Private Library, 1885-1889', Journal of the History of Ideas, Vol. 58, No. 4 (Oct., 1997), pp. 663-693 : 666.)




                        As to English the following extract is one piece of evidence :




                        Towards a Genealogy of Morals (1887) is to a large extent a response to Nietzsche's reading of and about "English psychologists," including Rée; and in the history of law (his library contains ten books within this field
                        and the majority of these are annotated by Nietzsche). (Thomas H. Brobjer: 673.)




                        '...reading of "English psychologists"' points tentatively to some knowledge of English but this quote suffers from the rather serious defect that Paul Rée (1849–1901) was a German, not an English, psychologist.



                        English words do occur in Nietzsche's writing, of which Duncan Large observes that :




                        ... the linguistic diversity is at times dazzlingly
                        extreme. Foreign words abound—mostly Latin and French but also ancient
                        Greek, Italian, English, Spanish, Provençal, Sanskrit. (Duncan Large, 'Nietzsche and/in/on Translation', Journal of Nietzsche Studies , Vol. 43, No. 1, Special Issue: Proceedings from the North American Nietzsche Society (Spring 2012), pp. 57-67 : 60.)




                        However, knowledge of individual words does not demonstrate any considerable knowledge of the language.



                        Overall I accept the judgement of Duncan Large :




                        As an academic classicist
                        Nietzsche himself translated between German, Greek, and Latin, but his command
                        of modern foreign languages was relatively unimpressive, and he viewed
                        language learning as a necessary evil, looking forward to the time when a new
                        lingua franca would obviate the need for language learning or translation at all. (Large: 57.)




                        If Nietzsche did tackle English it is likely to have been with the help of a dictionary. There is, so far as I know, no indication that he read or wrote the language with command or fluency.






                        share|improve this answer
























                          5












                          5








                          5






                          Frank Hubery has answered the question for Nietzsche's knowledge of French. I'd add the following extract from Nietzsche's April 1875 letter to Marie Baumgartner :




                          He himself confirms the shakiness of his French in a letter to Marie
                          Baumgartner of April 1875, when he thanks her for correcting his mistranslation
                          from Montaigne in Schopenhauer as Educator: “To the discoverer of my mistake
                          many thanks; you see my French is in rather a sorry state, and before I idealize
                          Montaigne I should at least understand him properly”. (Duncan Large, 'Nietzsche and/in/on Translation', Journal of Nietzsche Studies , Vol. 43, No. 1, Special Issue: Proceedings from the North American Nietzsche Society (Spring 2012), pp. 57-67 : 59.) If Nietzsche's French was in a 'sorry state' he must have had an elementary acquaintance with the language.




                          One might note Brobjer's comment :




                          On the
                          whole, Nietzsche's French was such that he did not read fiction in French before about 1880. ((Thomas H. Brobjer, 'Nietzsche's Reading and Private Library, 1885-1889', Journal of the History of Ideas, Vol. 58, No. 4 (Oct., 1997), pp. 663-693 : 666.)




                          As to English the following extract is one piece of evidence :




                          Towards a Genealogy of Morals (1887) is to a large extent a response to Nietzsche's reading of and about "English psychologists," including Rée; and in the history of law (his library contains ten books within this field
                          and the majority of these are annotated by Nietzsche). (Thomas H. Brobjer: 673.)




                          '...reading of "English psychologists"' points tentatively to some knowledge of English but this quote suffers from the rather serious defect that Paul Rée (1849–1901) was a German, not an English, psychologist.



                          English words do occur in Nietzsche's writing, of which Duncan Large observes that :




                          ... the linguistic diversity is at times dazzlingly
                          extreme. Foreign words abound—mostly Latin and French but also ancient
                          Greek, Italian, English, Spanish, Provençal, Sanskrit. (Duncan Large, 'Nietzsche and/in/on Translation', Journal of Nietzsche Studies , Vol. 43, No. 1, Special Issue: Proceedings from the North American Nietzsche Society (Spring 2012), pp. 57-67 : 60.)




                          However, knowledge of individual words does not demonstrate any considerable knowledge of the language.



                          Overall I accept the judgement of Duncan Large :




                          As an academic classicist
                          Nietzsche himself translated between German, Greek, and Latin, but his command
                          of modern foreign languages was relatively unimpressive, and he viewed
                          language learning as a necessary evil, looking forward to the time when a new
                          lingua franca would obviate the need for language learning or translation at all. (Large: 57.)




                          If Nietzsche did tackle English it is likely to have been with the help of a dictionary. There is, so far as I know, no indication that he read or wrote the language with command or fluency.






                          share|improve this answer












                          Frank Hubery has answered the question for Nietzsche's knowledge of French. I'd add the following extract from Nietzsche's April 1875 letter to Marie Baumgartner :




                          He himself confirms the shakiness of his French in a letter to Marie
                          Baumgartner of April 1875, when he thanks her for correcting his mistranslation
                          from Montaigne in Schopenhauer as Educator: “To the discoverer of my mistake
                          many thanks; you see my French is in rather a sorry state, and before I idealize
                          Montaigne I should at least understand him properly”. (Duncan Large, 'Nietzsche and/in/on Translation', Journal of Nietzsche Studies , Vol. 43, No. 1, Special Issue: Proceedings from the North American Nietzsche Society (Spring 2012), pp. 57-67 : 59.) If Nietzsche's French was in a 'sorry state' he must have had an elementary acquaintance with the language.




                          One might note Brobjer's comment :




                          On the
                          whole, Nietzsche's French was such that he did not read fiction in French before about 1880. ((Thomas H. Brobjer, 'Nietzsche's Reading and Private Library, 1885-1889', Journal of the History of Ideas, Vol. 58, No. 4 (Oct., 1997), pp. 663-693 : 666.)




                          As to English the following extract is one piece of evidence :




                          Towards a Genealogy of Morals (1887) is to a large extent a response to Nietzsche's reading of and about "English psychologists," including Rée; and in the history of law (his library contains ten books within this field
                          and the majority of these are annotated by Nietzsche). (Thomas H. Brobjer: 673.)




                          '...reading of "English psychologists"' points tentatively to some knowledge of English but this quote suffers from the rather serious defect that Paul Rée (1849–1901) was a German, not an English, psychologist.



                          English words do occur in Nietzsche's writing, of which Duncan Large observes that :




                          ... the linguistic diversity is at times dazzlingly
                          extreme. Foreign words abound—mostly Latin and French but also ancient
                          Greek, Italian, English, Spanish, Provençal, Sanskrit. (Duncan Large, 'Nietzsche and/in/on Translation', Journal of Nietzsche Studies , Vol. 43, No. 1, Special Issue: Proceedings from the North American Nietzsche Society (Spring 2012), pp. 57-67 : 60.)




                          However, knowledge of individual words does not demonstrate any considerable knowledge of the language.



                          Overall I accept the judgement of Duncan Large :




                          As an academic classicist
                          Nietzsche himself translated between German, Greek, and Latin, but his command
                          of modern foreign languages was relatively unimpressive, and he viewed
                          language learning as a necessary evil, looking forward to the time when a new
                          lingua franca would obviate the need for language learning or translation at all. (Large: 57.)




                          If Nietzsche did tackle English it is likely to have been with the help of a dictionary. There is, so far as I know, no indication that he read or wrote the language with command or fluency.







                          share|improve this answer












                          share|improve this answer



                          share|improve this answer










                          answered Nov 12 at 9:42









                          Geoffrey Thomas

                          23.2k22091




                          23.2k22091






























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