Towards a Definition of Small Literatures

This review essay examines the concept of small literature and
emphasises its peripheral position in the world literary system. Drawing on
theories from comparative literature, translation studies, postcolonial studies
and world-systems analysis, the historical and methodological debates on
small literatures are examined. The discussion traces the early perspectives of
comparative literature and the influence of Deleuze and Guattari’s concept of
minor literature, and assesses contemporary scholarly contributions, including
translation studies and geocultural approaches. Distinguishing small literatures
from migrant and minority literatures, the article highlights their unique
dynamics, including their polyfunctionality, multilingualism, limited repertoires,
self-reflexive discourse, impeded global circulation, lack of metropolitan
recognition, and diverse strategies of worlding. The study proposes a refined
definition of small literature, based on quantitative and qualitative criteria and taking into account its geopolitical, linguistic and institutional dimensions, in
order to provide a comprehensive framework for further research.