Abstract

Metalanguage is the expression of language's self-referentiality. It is most evident in cases of autonymy, i. e. when a word is used to signify itself, which provide for downright untranslability on a semantical level. However, a language-critical text like Adorno's Jargon der Eigentlichkeit shows how difficult it can become not only to translate instances of foregrounded language, but to draw a line between primary language and metalanguage, direct and reported speech.