Ethnography and translation in Rodolfo Lenz’s linguistic laboratory

Abstract

We propose to record reflections on the memoir of the Mapuche lonko (chief) Pascual Coña, written jointly with Ernesto de Moesbach, Rodolfo Lenz, Félix de Augusta and various other Mapuche «native informants», in the framework of the ethnological movement started in Chile by the scientific linguistics promoted by Rodolfo Lenz. We present some of the anthropological and traductological discussions inspired by this ethnological laboratory, especially those concerning the bilingual work of Manuel
Manquilef, which are particularly important as background to the bilingual testimony of Pascual Coña. In the light of the writings of these authors, we propose reconsideration of the cultural agents, appreciation of indigenous language and the testimonial text, and the theories and strategies of translation and linguistic transcription involved in the colonisation and «chileanisation» of La Araucanía.