THE LANGUAGE OF ISMAIL KADARE AND JAMES JOYCE: A COMPARATIVE OVERVIEW
Abstract
Ismail Kadare and James Joyce have some very interesting similarities at the level of their literary language. This paper aims to outline an overview of these similarities. Both writers have contributed a lot in the elaboration of each respective language by mastering it in a superior level of expression, one of the most apparent aspects of which is their expansion of lexis. Likewise, they both gave emphasis to the visual aspect of language, as is witnessed by their fondness for anagrams, backward writing, specific spellings, etc. Even more important is their attentiveness regarding the sound aspect of language, pushed to the limits by Joyce, but persistently pursued also by Kadare. It is no mere coincidence that music figures so largely in their works. Another important commonality is the frequent use of foreign words by both writers. Without going to the limits of Finnegans Wake where Joyce used even words borrowed from Albanian, Kadare exploits with great effect a wide range of foreign words, from Russian to French, from Chinese to Swedish. Lastly, both writers had an incomparably sharp sensitivity to discursive registers, representing convincingly characters from the widest range of social strata, some of them traditionally excluded from literary language. Drawing on Kadare’s remarks on Joyce’s “multilingual delirium”, his attempt to “create the language of water and wind”, etc, it is concluded that these similarities in language are not fortuitous, and that Joyce was an important reference point in Kadare’s explorations in literary language.
Key words: literary language, Ismail Kadare, James Joyce, foreign, communicative registers.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Declaration/Copyright transfer:
1. In consideration of the undertaking set out in paragraph 2, and upon acceptance by ANGLISTICUM for publication of the manuscript in the Journal, I/We hereby assign and transfer publication rights to ANGLISTICUM, whereas I/We retain the copyright for the manuscript. This assignment provides ANGLISTICUM the sole right and responsibility to publish the manuscript in its printed and online version, and/or in other media formats.
2. In consideration of this assignment, ANGLISTICUM hereby undertakes to prepare and publish the manuscript in the Journal, subject only to its right to refuse publication if there is a breach of the Author’s warranty in paragraph 4 or if there are other reasonable grounds.
3. Editors and the editorial board of ANGLISTICUM are empowered to make such editorial changes as may be necessary to make the Manuscript suitable for publication.
4. I/We hereby acknowledge that: (a) The manuscript submitted is an original work and that I/We participated in the work substantively and thus I/We hereby are prepared to take public responsibility for the work; (b) I/We hereby have seen and approved the manuscript as submitted and that the manuscript has not either been published, submitted or considered for publication elsewhere; (c) The text, illustration, and any other materials included in the manuscript do not infringe upon any existing copyright or other rights of anyone.
5. I/We hereby indemnify ANGLISTICUM and the respective Editors of the Journal as mentioned in paragraph 3, and hold them harmless from any loss, expense or damage occasioned by a claim or suit by a third party for copyright infringement, or any suit arising out of any breach of the foregoing warranties as a result of publication of the manuscript.