Glorious English

cj Sez: A friend sent me this quote from a fellow blogger, Sol Sanders: "Perhaps the glory of the English language is that it is so expressive. Its remarkable heterogeneous origins have given it an almost limitless vocabulary. And American English, particularly, has used that tool with an enormous flexibility to make it the international means of communication. One is able with a minimum of linguistic dexterity to capture every meaning, or almost every nuance."

Mr. Sanders's comments were part of an introduction to his essay on what today's journalism and media do with and to the English language. The gist of his blog is that they overcomplicate their sentences with words that muddy their meanings . . . i.e., changing nouns into verbs and, perhaps, calling a shovel a "hand-held, earth-moving tool." My take on this is that media types and journalists employ this old trick of confusing the issue to try to persuade readers to their (the writer/editor's) point of view.

I'll admit to a few personal dislikes. One is the word "impactful:" a noun turned into a verb turned into an adjective by adding ful on the end. What the Sam Hill does that mean?

The truth is, English is a living language. It's constantly evolving as we create new words with new meanings to compliment new technology. The caveat is that the generations cease to understand each other at an almost exponential pace. Many times I need an interpreter to understand "teen talk," and I think if I texted (a noun turned into a verb because of technology), I'd forget how to spell.

For me as a genre writer, the gloriously expressive English language is what makes my craft so fascinating.

Yes, I happily use nouns as verbs. Yes, I deliberately obfuscate (and add the disclaimer that it's for the sake of mystery). And I am drawn to the syntax, symbolism, and syncopation of a well-drafted sentence that is the hallmark of successful mystery/thriller/suspense novelists.

It's using that "minimum of linguistic dexterity to capture every meaning, or almost every nuance" that appeals to me, and, I think, to readers of those genres. They like trying to decipher the code, find the clues, and solve the crime. I like trying to confuse the issue.

I am, however, still working on my craft. How are you doing with your genre?

Okay, that's all for today. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I'll try to do the same.

cj


PS: The cartoon is from Facebook.

PPS:  My novel DEADLY STAR is included in the publisher's "Running to Love" bundle of novels, tentatively slated for release on October 27. That's TEN romantic suspense stories for 99 cents! Available on all of the Crimson Romance sites, including Amazon.com and B&N.com. 

After you've had a chance to read the stories, please let the authors know what you think by taking a few moments to give them a review, good-bad-indifferent. We appreciate your feedback.

Today we welcome Mary S. Palmer as our guest writer. Mary is a writer for many genres and an avid traveler.  She currently teaches English at Faulkner State College in Fairhope, Alabama and previously taught at Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama.  Educated at the University of South Alabama, Mary holds a Master of Arts in English with a Concentration in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts (Cum Laude) in English. Her recently published book To Catch a Fish was written with David Wilton. Mary shares her thoughts on writing in different genres.  Mahala

SHIFTING GEARS


Writing is somewhat like driving a car; the gears have to be shifted now and then. Nowadays, in a car, that's done automatically, but it still happens. When writing, the point of view may change, new characters are introduced or the setting moves to another place. A much bigger shift might involve writing in a new genre.

I am a writer who does that--changes genres. Here's proof:

I spent several years writing a biography of Governor George Wallace. It started as an assignment from a publisher who went out of business. I revised it and used it as my Master's Thesis. It didn't go to waste.

My first published book, MemoraMOBILEia: Alabama Gulf Coast Potpourri, was a collection of works including short stories, a history of the area, and poetry. Congressman Sonny Callahan wrote the Foreword; Elizabeth T. Coffman, Ph.D., and I wrote the short stories and poems; and Maureen Maclay, wrote the history of the area.

The Callings, co-authored with Loretta Theriot, was set in Cameron, LA. It's the true crime story of a teenager who was convicted of matricide and sent to the Louisiana State Prison, and a Catholic priest. They grew up together: One was called by God; the other, by the devil.

My third book, also co-authored with Dr. Coffman, False Gods, was about a corrupt television evangelist who exploited everyone to reach his goals.

I shifted again for my third book to a biography entitled Quest for Forgiveness co-authored by James McEnery was about his being a child of alcoholic parents left as an orphan.

The fourth book was co-authored by David V. Wilton. It was a fictional novel about children growing up in the fifties. One becomes the first black lieutenant governor of Alabama. He has to decide whether to give up his position and come to Mobile to defend his childhood friend, a fisherman accused of murder.

I went into high gear to write a science-fiction book about aliens who bring a female reporter wreck victim back to life so she can help them come back to earth to share cures for fatal diseases.

The sci-fi book was the last one I expected to be accepted but a publisher took it in four days. Who knows what the market will bear? Maybe that's why I write about different things.

Automatic drive in cars is easier. However, I can drive a shift car. But you have more control when you shift gears--in writing, too. Also, moving from one genre to another is a challenge. Isn't that what writing is about? We sure wouldn't do it for the money.

Mary S. Palmer

5/21/12

http://www.maryspalmer.com/