Can the Subaltern Speak?
Language: English
Published by Macat International Limited, 2017
- Softcover
- New

Seller: THE SAINT BOOKSTORE, Southport, United KingdomTHE SAINT BOOKSTORE
AbeBooks seller since June 14, 2006
Condition: New
£ 8.69
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
New copy - Usually dispatched within 4 working days.
Seller Inventory # B9781912127504
- Title
- Can the Subaltern Speak?
- Author
- Graham Riach
- Publisher
- Macat International Limited
- Publication year
- 2017
- Condition
- New
- Binding
- Paperback / softback
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 1912127504
- ISBN 13
- 9781912127504
- Item weight
- 184 grams
A critical analysis of Spivak's classic 1988 postcolonial studies essay, in which she argues that a core problem for the poorest and most marginalized in society (the subalterns) is that they have no platform to express their concerns and no voice to affect policy debates or demand a fairer share of society’s goods.
A key theme of Gayatri Spivak's work is agency: the ability of the individual to make their own decisions. While Spivak's main aim is to consider ways in which "subalterns" – her term for the indigenous dispossessed in colonial societies – were able to achieve agency, this paper concentrates specifically on describing the ways in which western scholars inadvertently reproduce hegemonic structures in their work.
Spivak is herself a scholar, and she remains acutely aware of the difficulty and dangers of presuming to "speak" for the subalterns she writes about. As such, her work can be seen as predominantly a delicate exercise in the critical thinking skill of interpretation; she looks in detail at issues of meaning, specifically at the real meaning of the available evidence, and her paper is an attempt not only to highlight problems of definition, but to clarify them.
What makes this one of the key works of interpretation in the Macat library is, of course, the underlying significance of this work. Interpretation, in this case, is a matter of the difference between allowing subalterns to speak for themselves, and of imposing a mode of "speaking" on them that – however well-intentioned – can be as damaging in the postcolonial world as the agency-stifling political structures of the colonial world itself. By clearing away the detritus of scholarly attempts at interpretation, Spivak takes a stand against a specifically intellectual form of oppression and marginalization.
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
Dr Graham Riach holds a PhD from Emmanuel College, Cambridge, on contemporary South African literature. A specialist in postcolonial literature, he currently teaches at the University of Oxford.
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
THE SAINT BOOKSTORE
Southport, United Kingdom
AbeBooks seller since June 14, 2006
Shipping rates from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
| Item | 7 to 28 business days | 7 to 28 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 12.59 | £ 14.59 |
Payment methods
Store description
The Saint Bookstore has a range of over 1 million titles available.
Specialty
GeneralSeller's business information
SB ONLINE LTD
50 Devonshire Road
Southport, United Kingdom PR9 7BZ
Terms of sale
Please order through the Abebooks checkout. We only take orders through Abebooks - We don't take direct orders by email or phone.
Refunds or Returns: A full refund of the purchase price will be given if returned within 30 days in undamaged condition.
As a seller on abebooks we adhere to the terms explained at http://www.abebooks.co.uk/docs/HelpCentral/buyerIndex.shtml - if you require further assistance please email us at orders@thesaintbookstore.co.uk
Right of withdrawal
If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.
Information regarding the right of withdrawal
Statutory right to withdraw
You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.
To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
Effects of withdrawal
If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).
We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.
We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.
We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.
You shall send back the goods or hand them over to THE SAINT BOOKSTORE, Southport, United Kingdom, without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
Exceptions to the right of withdrawal
The right of withdrawal does not apply to:
- The delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
- The supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not withdraw once delivery had started.
Shipping terms
Most orders usually ship within 1-3 business days, but some can take up to 7 days.