Free English Language Dissertations - What Is The Role Of Language Play In Literature? Language Play, The Use Of
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF LANGUAGE PLAY IN LITERATURE?
Language play, the use of words and language to create new and unusual meanings and correspondences, has long been used by authors to ensure that their words have an impact on readers. Poets, playwrights and novelists, both classic and contemporary, use language play to conjure the readers’ imagination without wordy descriptions or long explanations. Language play affords writers the opportunity to say more with less, evoking vivid imagery causing the reader to feel the action, rather than simply reading words on a page.
Literary language is different from everyday language because it draws attention to some property of the language itself, and highlights or foregrounds it. This foregrounding surprises the reader into a fresh perception and appreciation of the subject matter. (Jeffries, 1996, p. 163)
There are many different type of foregrounding used by authors, most of which are also considered to be types of language play. Out of the tradition of language play comes the phrase to play on words which usually refers to the most basic form of language play, punning. But this phrase can also be taken in this context to refer to other types of language play including: metaphors, similes, rhyme, alliteration, assonance, onomatopoeia, and many other more technical forms of language play.
Many authors use language play to create their own distinct style, not only setting their words and ideas apart, but also themselves as writers. These authors have used language play to break literary conventions and create their own literary trademarks. One of the most notable authors known to persistently use language play in their literature is William Shakespeare, who broke conventions of subject matter and language use far before his time.
Shakespeare’s use of language play has ensured that his plays remain relevant to this day, while the works of his contemporaries often appear dated or irrelevant today. Shakespeare instilled timelessness in his works by using numerous language play conventions to create visual pictures for his readers and audiences.
He mixed the use of poetry and prose in his plays to mark changes in the narrative, notably the movement from conversation to soliloquies. This use of language play is effective both when reading the texts and listening to the words aloud. As text the movement from prose to poetry has a distinctly different look on the page, just as the rhythm of speech changes when read aloud. In his poetry he often uses rhyme, alliteration (the repetition of consonants), assonance (the repetition of vowels) and onomatopoeia (words that sound like the things or actions they describe, such as, pop) to create a distinct, memorable rhythm within the text. This use of language play within the text also creates text which is notably easier for actors to recite and remember.
