1. Expressive Power and Nature and the Written Word Christia, Tanya, Chaerin, Manaka
2. Introduction Writing: the purposeful manipulation of language (vocabulary and grammar). How can we use words to evoke images and emotions? Why and how does the written word sometimes have a greater influence than the spoken sword?
3. Discussion Points Theories of Meaning: image theory problematic meaning (vagueness, ambiguity, secondary meanings (denotation, connotation, euphemisms), metaphors, irony Emotional laden language emotive meaning
5. Problematic Meaning Vagueness: gives a rough idea The cat jumped high into the air. The cat jumped three feet into the air. Ambiguity: can be interpreted several ways The duchess cannot BEAR children. Have Stand
6. Problematic Meaning Secondary Meanings Denotation: primary meaning (dictionary) Connotation: associations Euphemism: way to politely rephrase (same denotation, different connotation) Metaphor: understanding one object in terms of another My brother is a butcher. My dentist is a butcher. Irony: saying one thing but meaning another “Great idea, genius.”
7. Emotional Meaning Connotation: association Terrorist – negative association Puppies – positive association, cute, childhood Banana – neutral, depending on experiences Emotive Language When emotion effects word choice. Words with strong connotations.
8. How does language evoke emotion? Words can create emotional responses from the reader Connotations with different words in different cultures can evoke different types of emotions for different people Different choices of literary devises Allusions, similes, symbolism Words rarely tend to be neutral, instead they are filled with visual imagery and emotional connotations, language can evoke these through mere text
9. Positive and Negative words Positive words will evoke positive emotions in you While negative words are more likely to evoke emotions of anger or sadness lovely, amazing, joyful, glorious are all positive words Hatred, depression, death, gore are negative words
10. Images and Emotions Crystal Cascades Soft upon my eyelashes Turning my cheeks to pink Softly falling, falling Not a sound in the air Delicately designed in snow Fading away at my touch Leaving only a glistening drop And its memory - Mary O. Fumento, 1984
11. Written Word vs. Spoken Word Writing: the purposeful manipulation of language (vocabulary and grammar). Logistics Visual representation Can be referenced Interpreted at reader’s chosen pace Reader needs to interpret problematic meaning
Notes de l'éditeur
There are many different types of tears: from sobs to sniffles to hacking cries where you can’t breathe. Each word has its own emotional associations, connotations, and double meanings. Putting all those words together creates an overall feeling, which is then applied to the subject matter (crying). By creating a big picture out of little details, writers are able to sculpt images and control which emotions they want to present to their readers.
Information remains when it’s been encoded.Problem with the spoken word is that the pacing is controlled by the speaker. There is no visual representation to aid the memory and it cannot be referenced a second or third time. Further, the spoken word is always colored by the speaker’s delivery. Writing remains neutral, for the author’s voice is only reflected in the writing. Thus, it makes it easier to manipulate word choice, sentence structure, and problematic meanings to make a point. Reader actively engages in the text and needs to sort out all of the problematic meanings to find out what the author is trying to say.
