Verbose language, anyone?
“Amrita Sher-Gil was a plosive among the susurrants of colonial India’s elite, a percussionist striking through the mellifluity of its strings.”
A perfect example of grand verbose language written by the eminent journalist Ranjit Hoskote. My friends and I often get into discussions about simplicity and non simplicity of language. For reasons apparently unknown to me, I always maintain that I love such flowery verbose language. One particular friend is quite vociferous in saying that only people who desire to flaunt their language and those who don’t care whether they convey the message or meaning, use such language. Well, probably she is right. But, again what is wrong in showing off or flaunting or conveying something you are good at? Not everyone can boast of possessing such language. And I personally feel that writing simple, straight, concise, crisp and all the right kind of prose becomes atrociously boring after a while and look similar across all English text books and books written in a simple manner. And, what about the variety and thrill and excitement of having learnt new words or a different style? In our attempt to stick to simple, sweet, nice things, we might be depriving ourselves of learning so much more. Same goes for grammar too, in our obsession to use perfect grammar, we lose the skill of spontaneously stringing beautiful words together that give the reader a high and instill curiosity in him.
Again, I do accept that verbose language is more suited for fiction than the newspaper or web, because a casual newspaper reader will not have the patience to check his dictionary for meanings. Yet….it does not imply that verbose language should altogether become non-existent.
A perfect example of grand verbose language written by the eminent journalist Ranjit Hoskote. My friends and I often get into discussions about simplicity and non simplicity of language. For reasons apparently unknown to me, I always maintain that I love such flowery verbose language. One particular friend is quite vociferous in saying that only people who desire to flaunt their language and those who don’t care whether they convey the message or meaning, use such language. Well, probably she is right. But, again what is wrong in showing off or flaunting or conveying something you are good at? Not everyone can boast of possessing such language. And I personally feel that writing simple, straight, concise, crisp and all the right kind of prose becomes atrociously boring after a while and look similar across all English text books and books written in a simple manner. And, what about the variety and thrill and excitement of having learnt new words or a different style? In our attempt to stick to simple, sweet, nice things, we might be depriving ourselves of learning so much more. Same goes for grammar too, in our obsession to use perfect grammar, we lose the skill of spontaneously stringing beautiful words together that give the reader a high and instill curiosity in him.
Again, I do accept that verbose language is more suited for fiction than the newspaper or web, because a casual newspaper reader will not have the patience to check his dictionary for meanings. Yet….it does not imply that verbose language should altogether become non-existent.
posted by Gayathri Varma @ 11:11 PM
6 comments
6 Comments:
Hi JA,
Thanks for taking time off from your madenningly busy schedule to read and then voice your opinion. I do agree with you about using language that a common reader can identify with and understand and above all, giving a feeling of being there/done that kind. Again, if you recall, i did mention that such writing is definetely more suited for fiction than newspaper, Arundhati Roy for example....tell me, how many of us can really identify with her vocabulary? One reason why the likes of Hoskote may not be very appealing is because he uses almost similar language in his newspaper columns too.
And ofcourse, the example i produced here is definetely an extreme one.
And by the way, don't ever be apolegetic about expressing your views, i welcome them. Also, don't be so modest about your vocabulary or your writing skills, when you happen to be so immensely talented.
A nod, a sigh, a bright smile,
A clap, a laugh, a triumphant shout,
What i need from you can be said and left unsaid,
Why the words, why the veil, why the pretext,
Let the hoskote's rest in peace,
For when you really want to see,
And if i really want to show,
Mere words will not paint the picture my friend,
Only the emotion will, only the pain will,
For the greatest gift we have is the power to feel,
Love, hate, anger, mirth, disdain, despair, comfort, care...
these words are just the package, you open and throw away,
Bite into what's inside, chew it, savour it, make it a part of you..
just a word, just a few letters...
all that matters is whether you know the language of the heart, my friend
Hi Delfi,
Wow! what a lovely message. At last!!! So glad to hear from you after such a loooong pause. Thanks and do continue posting your messages.
What else do I have to add gayathri? You have already quoted me and JA has done a great job for me.
I always feel that a writer only uses language to communicate the true essence of his/her message and not as a platform to exhibit his vocabulary.
I also differ with you on another account. Only a writer who can pass a message without sending the readers scurryin to the dictionary is a successful and memorable writer.
hey gayathri,
there is an audience for all kinds of writing. to each his own.
i believe, if you write something someday somewhere somebody will read it.
I love your website. It has a lot of great pictures and is very informative.
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