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167 Pages·2009·2.26 MB·English

LIMITEDI NC
JACQUEDSE RRIDA
NorthwesUtneirvne rPsrietsys
EvanstILo n,
NorthwestUenrinv ersPirteys s
EvanstIolnl,i 6n0o2i0s8 1-740
"SignatEuvreenC to ntexcto"p yri©g 1h9t7 b2y L esE ditidoenM si nuiEtn.g litsrha nslabtySi aomnu el
Webearn dJ effrMeeyh lmafni rst pubilnGi lshyeIpd,1 h97 7C.o pyrig©h 1t9 7b7y t hJeo hnHso pkins
UniversPirteysa sn dE ditidoenM si nui"tS.i gnaEtvuerneCt o ntexttr,a"n slbaytA elda Bna ssa,p pears
inM argoiPfn hsi lobsyJ oapcqhuDyees r ripduab,l isihne1 d9 8b2y t heU niversoifCt hyi caPgroe ss.
Englitsrha nslaotf"i Loinm itIendca bc. ." b.y S amueWle befri rpsutb lisihneG dl y2p,1h 9 77.
Copyrig©h 1t9 7b7y t hJeo hnHso pkinUsn iversPirteysU ss.e db yp ermissoifto hnJe o hnHso pkins
UniversPirteys s.
Afterwocrodp yri©g h1t9 8b8y J acquDeesr riTdraa.n slactoipoynr i©g 1h9t8 b8y S amueWle ber.
EditoFro'rse woarndd S ummaroyf " ReitertahteDi infgf erenccoepsy"r i©g h1t9 8b8y N orthwestern
UniversPirteysA sl.lr ighrtess erved.
Printientd h eU niteSdt atoefAs m erica
15 14 13 12 II 10 9
ISB0N- 8101-0788-0
LibraorfCy o ngreCsast aloging-in-PDuabtla ication
DerriJdaac,q ues.
LimitIendc/ J acquDeesr rida.
p.c m.
Translfartoemtd h eF rench.
Twoe ssahyesr eaipnp earienGd l ypvh. 1 & 2,1 977.
ContenStisg:n ateuvreenc to ntext-Sumomfa" rRye itertahtdeii nfgf ere-nLciemsi"t Iendca cb­
Afterword: atneo twhaoirfcdd iscussion.
ISBN0 -8101-07(8p8b-k0. )
I.D econstruction. I.T itle.
PN98.D431D94858
801'-.d9c5I 9 88-28322
eIP
Thep apeurs eidn t hipsu blicamteieottnsh em inimurme quiremoeftn hteAs m ericNaant ionSatla ndard
forI nformaStciioenn ces-PermoafPn aepnecfreo Prr intLeidb raMrayt eriAaNlSsIZ ,3 9.48-1992.
Contents
EditoFro'rse word vii
SignatEuvreen Cto ntext 1
Summaroyf " ReiteratthieDn igf ferenc2e5s "
LimitIendc a bc. .. 29
Afterword:T owarAnd EthiocfD iscuss1i1on1

EditoFro'rse word
LiimtIendcc o llienco tnsev, o lufmore tfhiert sitmt eh,te w oe ssatyhsac to n­
stitute DJearcrqiumdeoass' stsu staeinngeadg emweinttAh n glmoe-rAican
speeaccthth eoIryna.n ewAft erwor"dT,o waarnEd t hoifDc i scusDseirorni,d"a
respotnoqd use st(isounbsm ittoht iemid nw ritftoremna) b otuhtte w oe ssays
andt hcer ititchiehsyam vse recasew ievlaelsod t,h ceorn trovaesrpseiocaftl s
Derriwdoar'ks.
Theo peniensgs a"ySg,in atEuvreeCn otn t,eh"xa tass omewhcaotml ipcat­
edp ubliinshghi stIonri ytf.si rvsetr sitohenes, s waaysw ritftore nca o nfer­
ence thotenh eme" Coofm munichaetlidot nhb"Ceyo ngrienst ernational des
Sociedtepe hsli osopdheli aen gfurea ncaise A(uMgoun1st9tr7,ea1 an)ldw ,a s
publisinhF erde nicnth h Ceo ngrPerso'cse edTihneeg ssys.w a ast hecno llect­
edi nD erriMdaar'gsde sel aP hilpohsypo,u blibsyhE eddi tidoeMn isn uiint
197T2h.ef irEsntg ltirsahn slbaySt aimounWe,el b er JaenfdfM reehyl man, ap­
peariendv olu1mo ef t hsee rpiuabll icGayltphi ionn1 97I7ts. u bsequently
appeairnaet dr anslbayt iABolanas nis nM agrinosfP hilpohsy(o Uvneirsoift y
ChigcoaP rses1,9 82).
Ini tsse cond v(o1l9u7Gm7yle)p h,p ubliasr heesdp otnoDs eer riedsays' as
byJ ohRn.S earelnet i"tRelietde rtahtDeii fnefgr enAc eRse:p Dley rtr"oiI dwtaas .
th"isR eptlhya"t Dderrerwi rdeaj'osi tnhdeees rs,"a Lyi miItnaecbd c .,..t" r ans­
latbeySd a muWeelb eWrh.e nPr ofeSsesaordrle ec litnohe advh ei ess sianyc lud­
edi nt hper esentw ebd oeocki,tdo ei dn saeb rrtis eufm maorfiy t s pmoaiinintn s
ane ditonroitbaeel t ween Dtewroer sisdaWayi'stst.h h siusm maarnyDd e rrida's
comprehensiveo fSq euaort"laRete'ipsorl ney a,d"se hrosu blead b lteor econ­
strtuhcdeti spbuettew eDeenr rainddSa e arBluet. tahraeedy v itsoec do nsult
thfuel tle xotfS earelses'iasnGy yl ph2 .
BecauSseea r"lRee'psal nydD" e rrirdeaj'osi inn"d Leirm iItnecmd"a keex ­
tensrievfee rteonp caes saignte hsWe e ber-Mehtlrmaanns loaf"t Sgiinoant ure
EvenCto ntewxeth ,a"vc eh osteoun s teh attr anslhaetrieo.n
Onb ehaolftf hN eo rthweUsntievrenPr rseiIstw sya, nt toe xtemnywd a rmest
thantkoSs a muWeelb efror i nitsiuaglgleyst thipinrsgo jheecltp,ii atnl go inng
innumerwaabylasen, d transAlftaetriwnogur nddt ehre consdiedaedrlaibnlee
pressAnudr oef.c ourwsee thank DJearcrqfiuordeg asi viunstg h heo noorf
vii
LIMITED INC
makihnigts e xatvasi laibnbl oeo fkor ma,n fdo r enhtahnecwmii nthghi mso st
recetnhto ughts.
GERALD GRAFF
viii
SignatEuvreenC to ntext
"Sticloln finoiunrgs elfvoers simptloi spcoiktey nu tter.a"n ce
AustHionw,t oD oTh ingwsi tWhor ds
Is ceitr ttahiatntot hweo rcdo mmucnaiticoonr respaco onndcste hpatit s
uniquunei,v orciaglo,r ouslyl eca,on ntdtr raonlsblmlaiiebtn:atw aorcd,o mmu­
nicaTbhlueis?na, c cordwaintachs e t rafniuggree d oifs coounrems ues,ft i rosft
all oasnke self owrhn eottthh weeo rr d or signifierc o"mcmoumnmiu­nication"
cataed se termicnoantteea nnit d,e ntimfieaabnlieon rg ,da e scrivbaalbulee.
Howeveevre,tn oa rticaunltdao pt reo potshqeiu se stIhi aovnhe a tdo a ntitcei pa
thmee anionftg h e wcoormdm ucnaitni:Ioh avbee ecno nstrtaopi rneedde ter­
minceo mmuincataisaov ne hiacm leea,no sft ransoprto rratn simteidoinuoamfl
am eainnga,n dm oreoovfe rua n ifeidm eaniIncfg o.m mucnaitipoons sessed
sevemreaalng isan nidtf h pilsu raslhiotuyl d tpobr eio rvree duicwtio bullnedo, t
bej ustitfodi eafbilcneoe m municaap triiaoosntr hite r ansmiosfams eiaoinnn g,
evesnu ppotshiwanetgc oualgdr oenew haeta cohft hewsoer d(st ransmission,
meanientgci,.n )v olAnvde yde.t ,h awvene o p riaourt horifzoanrte igolne cting
commucnaitiaosan w ordo,rf oirm poveriitspsho ilnygs aesmpiec;ic ntdseed,
thwiosr odp enuspa s emandtoimca tihna t prdeocenisos ltei lmyii ttst eosl ef­
mantiscesm,i oatniedcv se,n tlole isnsg uiFsotri ccohsna.er actetrhisese t­ic of
mantfiiceo lftd h weo rcdo mmuincatiitsoh nia dtte signnaotnesse mamnotviec­
mentassw ellH.er eev,e anp rovisrieocnoautlroo s red inlaaryn guaangtdeo the
equivocoaftn iaotnulsra anlg uiangset ruustc htaostn ec anf,ori nstacnocme­,
muncaitea moveomret nhtat a [terbermaonrl, e smahe oncatdk ]i,s placoefm ent
forccea bne c ommuntiecda-tihspa,tr opagtartaends,m Wieta tlessdop. e oafk
differoerrn etm optlea cceosm muincatwiintegha coht hbeyrm eanosfa p assage
oro peniWnhgat.ta kpelsa icnet ,h issen sweh,ait st ransmciotmtmeudn,i cated,
doenso itn voplhveen omoefn am eaonrSi inggn ificIanst uiccohan s.we esa re
dealnienigt whietarsh e manotrci ocn cepctounatlne onwrti ,ta hs emiootpiecr a­
tioann,de velne wsist ahl ingueixscthiacn ge.
1
LIMITEIDN C
Wew oulndo th,o werva,es stehrattt h niosn -semmieoatniiocnft g h weo rd
commucantiioansi, wt o rkisno rdinlaarnyg uiango en,eo rm oroef t hseo ­
calnlaetdu lraanlg uacgoenss,t itthuet elosirp t reriamla rpryr imimteiJ1a nianngd
thcaotn sequtehnsete lmya ntic,o rsl eimnigoumtieisactn,iic cno gr responds to a
deriovnae,tx iteinosn,r eodru ctami eotna,p hdoirsipcl acWeemw eonutl.d not
assearsot n,em ighbtet emptteodd o t,h aste miog-uliiscntoimcm unicaact­ion
quiriettdsi mtolrem ee taphobryai ncaol,o gy witho r"" erpahlcy"os mimcuanli"­
cation, iansia tas lmssuoec rhva esas p assatgrea,n spoarntdti rnagn smitting
somethrienngd,e iratic ncsges ibWlew ei.ln olat s stehrfitos tr h feol lowrienag­
sons:
1)b ecautshveea loufe tnhoet ioofln i termaela ni[nsgep nrpsor ]ea ppears
morper oblemtahtaienvc eaarln, d
2)b ecautshee voafdl iusep lacoeftm reannts,ep cto.ir,pst r ,e cicsoenlsyt itu­
tivoeft hceo ncoefpm te tapwhiotrwh h ich colnaeit mocs o mprehtehnsede ­
mantdiics plactehmaiebtsnr to uagbhtof uortm c ommunicaasatn ioonn- semio­
lingupihsetniocm etnoco onm municaats ieomni oa-sl ipnhgeuniosmteinco n.
(Lemte n otpea renthetthiatctha iclsol mym uniciasgt oiiontngoc oncern,
indeaeldr ecaodnyc etrhnpesr ,o bloefm polyasnedom fcy o mmunicoaft ion,
dissneamtiion-wIsh hiacolhpl p otsope o lysemyo-fca onmdm unicIanat ion.
moment a certoafwi rni tcciaonnngncf oeiattpl ota ritsheam ta yt ransiftosreml f
andp erhatrpasn stfhoperr mo bleumnadteciroc n side.r)a tion
Iste emsse lf-etvhiatdthea enm tb igufioeulosdft hweo r"dc ommunication"
cabne m assirveedluycb eytd h lei moiftw sh aitsc allace odtn ext( anIdg ive
notiacgea,pi anr enthetthiatctha iplsal ryt,i ccoumlmaurn icwaitlbileo nc on­
cernweidtt hh per oblecmo notafen xwdti tthh e quoefsd teitoenr meixnaicntgl y
howw riting torc eolnatitenegx set n e)rF.ao lerx ampilnaep ,h iloscooplhlioc­
quiuomn p hilosiontp hhFeyr enlcahn guaagc eo,n ventcioonntaelx t-pro­
ducebdy kai nodfc onsentshuaistsi mplbiucstit tr uctvuargauleel-eysm tso
presctrhiaboten ep ropo"sceo mmunicactoinocnesrc"no imnmgu nication,
communiciantadi iosnrcssu ifvorem, c ollocqoumimauln icaotriacolon msm,u ­
nicatdieosntsit nobe eld i stteona,en dd etnog aogrte o p ursduiea logues within
thheo riozfo nia nnt eliltiayng tdir buittlhhai tms e anfuilnsg,u cthh autlm taitely
geneargarle emmeanyit, np rincbiepa ltet,a iTnheedsc.eo mmuantiicoanrse
suppotsoe dc otnfhienmvese etslo t heel emeonfat d etermi"nanattu"erl ,aa ln­
guaghee,rd ee signaasFt reedn wchhi,cc ho mmancdesr tvaeirpnya rticular uses
of twhoerc do mmucnaitni.Ao bovaell t,h e oobfjs euccth communiisc ations
suppobsyep dr,i oorrib typy r ivitlooe rggea,n iitzsaeer lofu cnodm munication
qudai scoourri snae n,cy a sqeu sai gnificatieoxnh.a uWsiattltihlhno iegum tp li­
catiaonndts h een tisrter ucotfau nr" ee vesnutc"ah st hiosn ea,ne ffortth at
would reexqtueinrpdere edl airmayin nalytshcieos n,d ittihoahntas v Ie rjeu­st
callseedet mo b ee videanndtt ;h owsheo d oubitnt e eodn lcyo nsouulprtr o­
gratmo cboen vinced.
Buatr e ctohned it[eilsro enqsu isoifat c so]n teevxetr absdoeltuetremliyn a­
bleT?h iis,sfu ndamenttahlmelo ysg,te neqruaels ttihoaInst h aelnld eatvoo r
2
SginatEuvreeCn ottn ext
elaboIrsta hteear.r e i goraonudss c ienctoinficcoe fpc to nexttO?rd oetsh neo ­
tioonfc ontneoxctto ncebaelh,ia nc de rtcaoinnfu sipohni,l osophical presup­
positoifao v nesr y determinatei itnn ta htmeuo rssetu? m mSatmraaytn innegr
possiIsb hlaetl,rtl yod emonstraact oen wtihensyxe tv aebrs olduetteelrym ina­
bleo,rr athwehryi, td se termicnaannte ivobener e nticreerltyoa rsi ant urated.
Thisst rucntounr-asla twuorualthdia ovaned oubelffeec t:
1)iwt o ulmda rtkh teh eoreitniacdaelqo ufta hcceyu n-cenotcn epotfc onextt
(ilnguiosrnt oincgl uiins)at,si i citsa ccepitnne udm erodoumsa ionfrs e search,
incluadlitlnh cgeo ncewpittwshh ichi ssi yts temaatsiscoaclilayt ed;
2)iw to ulnde ceistsaatc ee rtgaeinne ralainzdac teair otdnai isnp lacoefm ent
the concwerpitt Tihnoigfcs. o ncewpotu lndo l ongbeerc ompreheinns ible
teromfsc ommunicaatlt eiaoisnntt, h l ei misteendos feat ransmiosfm seiaonn­
inIgn.v erisitews li yt,ht ihgnee nedroamla oifwn r itdienfgi,in nte hdwi asy , that
theef cfteosfs emanctoimcm uniccaatbnie do ent ermaisen feefcdtt sh aatrpe a r­
ticusleacro,n dianrsyc,r ainbdse udp,p elnetmary.
Writinagn dT elecommunication
Ifw et akteh en otioofwn r itiinni gt s cuarcrceenptstleeynd s e-wohniec h
shounlodt -atnhdia etss sieanlt-cboen sidienrneodcp ernitm,i otrni avteu,r al,
icta n obnesl eye ansa m eanosfc ommucnaitni.Io ndeoendei, sc ompeltloe d
regairatds a n especiallyo fcp oomtmeunnti cmeaextatineosnn de,in nogr mous­
ly,n oitf infindiotmealoiyfno, r aotlrgh ees tucroamlm unicTahtiissoe ne.m s
obvioamu ast,t oefgr e neargarle emIes nhtan.lo ldt e scrailtblhe me o deso ft his
extenisnti iomnae n id ns pacIse h.a hlolw,e rvp,ea ufsoear m omenttoc onsider
thiem po[rvta loefeu xrt]e ntsowi hoinc hha vIje u rsetef rreTdo. s ay that writing
extendst hfei ealndtd h e poowfle orcsu toorgr eys tcuormalm unicparteisounp ­
posedso,eis nt o ats ,o orfth omogensepoausoc fce o mmunicOaftc ioounrt?sh ee
compaosfvs o iocreo fg esturee nwcoouulntdht eerre fiatncu laail m ainet m,p ir­
icbaolu ndoafrs yp aacnedo ft imweh;i wlrei tiinnt ghs,ea mtei maen di n the
samsep acweo,u lbdec apaobflr eel axtihnolgsi em aintsdo fo peninsga mteh e
fietlodv ear myu clha rgsecro pTeh.em eanionrcg o nteonftt hsse e manmteisc­
sagweo ultdh ubset ransmciotmtmeudinc,a tbeydd ,ife fremneta nbsy,m ore
powertfeuclh nmiecdaila toivoeanrf sra g, r eadtiesrt abnusctte w,ii ltlha mi end i­
umt harte maifunnsd amenctoanltliyn aunudsu es-l ifdenath iocmaolg,e neous
elemtehnrto wuhgihc thh e uanniwdth yo lenoefms esa niwnogu lndo t abfeefc t­
edi ni tess senAcnyea .l teration wobuela dc citdheernetfaolr.e
Thes ystoeftm h iinst erpr(ewthaiticisaho l nsi ona,c ertmaainnn etrhse,y s­
temo fi nterproertia nat nicyoa nso,ef a lhle rmeneuitnitceartlpi r)oeh,nto aw­
evecru rreanctcleyp itmtea dyb eo,r i nasmausci ht cuirs relnitkc,eo mmon
sensheasb, e ernpe resetnhtreodu ghhi stthooefpr hyi losIow pohuyle.dv egno
sof art osa asty h aiittts h ien terproefwt raittitiohnniag pts e cualnida rp rtoop er
philosIos phhalyli.lm m iyts etloaf S ingle ebxuaItmd ponl oebt,e lviete haat
sincgoleu nterecxaabnme fp oulned tihne entirep hhiilsotsaoossrp uyhc yIho ;f
3
LIMITEIDN C
knoowf n oa naltyhsacitos n traedsiscetnstt,ih ael loyn,e pbryCo opnodsieldl ac,
under thien flduieronefWcc aetr buritnto hnEe,ss ayo nt hOer igoifHn u man
Knoewdlg(eE ssais ulr' oridgecison en isnasancehsu mais.)nI he ave chtohsiesn
exampbleec auicstoe n taainen xpsl irceiflte cotnit ohnoe r igainndf unctoifo n
thwer ittteexnt (this inseo xtp ltifocou inbtden e eivsnesp r hyi losaonptdhh ye,
particcounldairtb iootonhfis t s emearngdoef in tcesec limpussbete a nalyzed)
whicohr ganiitzsehesel rwfei thapi hni losodpihsiccoatulhr aistnet, h ciass aen d
througphhoiulto sporpehsyu,p ptohsseie msp loiftc hioetr yi gtihnce,o ntinuity
ofa ldle rtiivoaonfa, l plr oducotfia olanln, as li,yas ndt hheo mogenoefai ltly
dimens[iodorrnses)A .n aloigsaym ajcoorn ceipntt h e thoofuC gohntd iIl lac.
have alsot hciehsxo asmepbnle ec autshaeen ail,sy" sretratchioenr gi"ga innd
functioofwn r itiispn lga,c ienadr ,a thuenrc riticauln edmrta hnaenu etrh,o rity
oft hcea tegoofc ryo mmucnaitni1.oI fm en wriiit:ts ( e1 b)e cautsheehy a vteo
communi(c2ab)te ec;a uwsheatt h ehya vteo c ommuntieic sta he"itrh ought,"
the"iird etahse,ri"er p retsieonTnthsao.u gahsrt e,p retsieonpntr,ae ceadneds
govercnosm municwahtiictohrn a,n stpho"eri tdse tah,Se"i gnicfoinetde( n3t);
becaumseena rael rye aidna s tattheaa tlo lwst hetmo c ommuincatthee ir
thougthott h emsealnvdte oes a ch otheirna c wohnetni,n muaonunset rh,e y
invetnhtpe a rtimceualnaosrfc ommunicwartiitoHinen,rg ie.sa p assfaorgme
chapXtIeIorIft hSee coPnadr( t" OLna nguaangMdee tohd"F)i,rS setc t(iO"onn
thOer igainndPs r ogroefLs asn ggue)a"( Writiistn hgu sm oad aloiflt ayn guage
andm arkacs ontipnruoaglr eisnsa ineo sns entliianlglucyio smtmiuicnc at)i,o n
paragXrIaIp"hIO ,Wn r iti"nMge"in:na s taotfce o mmunictahtetiihnrog u gbhyt s
meanosfs ounfdlestt,h e necoefis msaigtiynn eiwns gi gcnasp aobflp ee rpetuat­
intgh otsheo ugahntdos fm akitnhge kmn owtnop erswohnosa raeb esnt("I
understchovirasel oufea bsenwchei,ci hf, sutbetmdo ir tenewqeude stioning,
wilrli sikn trodauc ceirntga ini ntb hrheeo amko genoefi ttsyhy eesm t)O.n ce
mena rael reiantd hyse t aotf"e c ommuantiitcnhge tihro ug,ha"tn sdo fd oiintg
bym eanosfs oun(dwsh iicsah,c cortdoiC nogn dials leacco,sn tde wph,e anr ­
ticullaatnegdu haagsce o mteo " suppl[asppnulte"e trh]le a nguoafga eco tni,
whicihts h e sinrgaldeip caranildn coifap llllae n gu)at,gh ee birptrho garneds s
of writfiolnlgo iwwna il liltn hea itds i rescitm,p,a l nedc ontinTuhoehu iss.t ory
ofw riting witloall acowofm n efcohramn eiccoanlo tmogy a:i onrs avtehm eo st
spaacnedt impeo ssibbyml eea nosft hmeo st conavbebnrieevnitha etnicoen ;
writwiinnlgel v hearv teh sel igheftcfetoes nte itthheer strourtc htceuo rnet ents
oft hmee ani(ntghi ed eatsh)ai tit s suptpoto rsaends [mvieth icTuhlese arm)e.
contefnortm,e rcloym muincatbeygd e stuarnedss o unds,h enweciflolrb teh
transmbiytw treidtb iyns gu,c cveeSldSyii ffermeondteo sfn ottaiofnr,op mi cto­
grapwhriiCt tioan lgp hawbreitticCio nlgl,a tbeytr haheli leyr oglyphoifC writing
thEeg yptainadtn hsie d eogrwarpihtioicftn hgCe h ineCsoen.d iclolnatci nues:
"Thutsh,ie m aginwaitlrileo pnr etsoet nhteo mn ltyh vee rsya miem gaetsh at
thehya adl reeaxdpyr etshsreodua gcht iaonnwdso rdasn,wd h ich fhoramtd h,e
verbye ginnrienngd,el raendg ufiagguera anldm etaphoTrheim coaslnt.a tural
meansw ast hutsod epi[cdsstei neirm]a goefts h inTgoes xp.r etssh ied eoafa m an
4