NIEKOKOPOZNÁJMOK K POJMU DVOJDOMOVOSTI
Writers and Domiciles

Summary/Abstract: The study reviews the use of one of the terms introduced by the Slovak theoretician of comparative literature, Dionýz Ďurišin, and that is "dual/multiple domicile" (or "di/poly/oecism" in other translations, using the Greek root "oikia" a house, dwelling). The term, understood in a wider context of interliterary process, describes a situation, in which a writer transgresses the borders of his local literary system and "functions" - that is affects writing in other literary systems as well. Z. Hegedüsová, who applied this term to American and British literatures, tried to re-define the rather broad meaning by adding an element of intentional promotion of the "higher" unit of the interliterary process. She speaks of "personal psychological preference for the community, often resulting in denial of the need to preserve the specific features of elements that constitute it" citing the example of Walter Scott. Such an understanding of dual/multiple domicile is then confronted with the contemporary literatures written in English, in which the ambition and the reality of dual/multiple domicile is often tied to intentional promotion of diversity and hybridity. Salman Rushdie, who in his works, both fictional and essayistic, questions the canonical status of clear-cut categories, serves as an example. Having had a major impact on the sub-system of Indian literature written in English (Midnighťs Children (1981) arguably functioned both as a herald of and inspiration for narrative innovation), he continues to transgress multiple literary sub-systems his works could be ascribed to, promoting the agenda of "cross-pollination", instead of linguistic or cultural unity.

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