Language Quote by Marilyn Chandler McEntyre
““And sometimes words become objects of interest in themselves. Suddenly we notice them. We see and hear them the way poets do, as having vitality and delightfulness independent of their utility. Language may suddenly appear not as a closed system where meaning is simply constructed or a drably utilitarian system of reference, but as a dance - words at play - words not just meaning or reporting or chronicling or marching in syntactic formation, but performing themselves, sounding, echoing, evoking ripples of association and feeling, moving in curious sidelong figures rather than left to right in orderly lines.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Poetics of Language, 2015
Words can become lively objects, appreciated for their sound and movement, not just for meaning.
In simple terms: Words can be enjoyed for their own vitality.
Key Takeaway
Listen to words as if they were music.
Themes
language
creativity
perception
Mood
inspired
curious
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- reading poetry
- writing
- teaching language
- advertising
- songwriting
Key Concepts
aesthetics
semantic play
phonetics
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you notice the rhythm of everyday speech?
- How can you make language more playful?
A Different Perspective
Not all audiences value form over function.
