Academia.eduAcademia.edu

Das fremde Wort in Hermann Burgers Diabelli, Prestidigitateur

Abstract

The tongue conjurer Diabelli, the protagonist in Hermann Burger's novella Diabelli, Prestidigitateur intends to describe his tricks without breaking the magic oath he had sworn. The present article focuses upon the relation between concealing and revealing, language, writing and subjectivity: I intend to examine the function of foreign words and of Diabelli's artificial language in the context of the postmodern discussion of performativity.