Kunstsprachen, kulturelle Übersetzung und produktives Missverstehen in Zé do Rocks „lexikon üba vorurteile un andre teile“

Abstract This article examines the critical and subversive linguistic strategies employed by Zé do Rock in his fourth book, jede sekunde stirbt ein nichtraucher: a lexicon üba vorurteile un andre teile (2009). Conceived as an alphabetically structured reference work, the so-called “lexicon” integrates short entries and extended sections featuring cultural comparisons, travel experiences, and reflections on otherness. By playing on linguistic and cultural misunderstandings, it deconstructs perceptions of foreignness and invites readers to critically reassess their biases and preconceptions. This approach fosters a critical engagement with mechanisms of discrimination and stereotyping. The study investigates how his deliberate humoristic creation of communicative barriers challenges essentialist notions of identity. Additionally, it interrogates how these disruptions, far from obstructing communication, serve as a platform for exploring new pathways through processes of cultural translation toward successful transcultural dialogue. In doing so, the article highlights the transformative potential of misunderstanding as a means to rethink intercultural exchanges and to promote a more nuanced understanding of cultural diversity.