Symmetric and asymmetric relations, and the aesthetics of form in poetic language

Nigel Fabb

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

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Abstract

This article asks how the properties of symmetry and asymmetry, as aesthetic properties, are realized in literary language. I will argue that language makes available many kinds of asymmetry, and that the asymmetry often holds between two elements which are at the same time in a symmetric relation. This coincidence of an asymmetric and a symmetric relation between the same linguistic elements may be one source of the aesthetics of literary language.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)50-59
Number of pages9
JournalEuropean English Messenger
Volume18
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - 24 Apr 2009

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Aesthetics
Asymmetry
Poetic Language
Literary Language
Aesthetic Properties
Language
Symmetry
Coincidence

Keywords

  • linguistics
  • aesthetics
  • metre
  • english studies

Cite this

Fabb, Nigel. / Symmetric and asymmetric relations, and the aesthetics of form in poetic language. In: European English Messenger. 2009 ; Vol. 18, No. 1. pp. 50-59.
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Fabb, N 2009, 'Symmetric and asymmetric relations, and the aesthetics of form in poetic language', European English Messenger, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 50-59.

Symmetric and asymmetric relations, and the aesthetics of form in poetic language. / Fabb, Nigel.

In: European English Messenger, Vol. 18, No. 1, 24.04.2009, p. 50-59.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

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AB - This article asks how the properties of symmetry and asymmetry, as aesthetic properties, are realized in literary language. I will argue that language makes available many kinds of asymmetry, and that the asymmetry often holds between two elements which are at the same time in a symmetric relation. This coincidence of an asymmetric and a symmetric relation between the same linguistic elements may be one source of the aesthetics of literary language.

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Fabb N. Symmetric and asymmetric relations, and the aesthetics of form in poetic language. European English Messenger. 2009 Apr 24;18(1):50-59.

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