E. E. Cummings's Parentheses: Punctuation as Poetic Device

FORMAL REFERENCE:
Tartakovsky, Roi. 2009. "E. E. Cummings's Parentheses: Punctuation as Poetic Device." Style 43, no. 2: 215-247. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed April 8, 2011).

RELEVANT SECTIONS: Scattered

SUMMARY:

This extremely long article most specifically relates to author E.E. Cummings and his use of parentheses, but to make his point the author needed to establish some ideas about punctuation in general.

The gist of these arguments is that punctuation is more than just syntax, and, while it is institutionalized, punctuation is “fuzzy” and flexible, and the use of punctuation—especially in nonstandard ways—conveys meaning, intent, mood, etc. The author uses this quote in his conclusion:

“Punctuation can modify the emphases, and hence the 'meaning', embodied in a text, and has been used to communicate particular interpretations to readers."

While much of this article is not really relevant, the backing idea is that punctuation is extraordinarily complex when looked at from the standpoint not of function, but instead as patterns. This reinforces other authors in noting that punctuation can convey tone, mood, and intent on top of the typical pace and structure.

1. “Stop! Stop!! Stop!!!
2. 'Stop!!', she whispered

In each of these cases, Parkes explains, we interpret the exclamation mark differently, and through this we can see that "punctuation becomes a feature of the 'pragmatics' of the written medium" ( 1-2). Indeed, punctuation marks are a curious thing. Intricately connected with the written medium, originating, as Parkes shows, with aids for the inexperienced reader in Antiquity (10-11), they have gone through a long history of changes, shifts, and adaptation to new circumstances and needs. Punctuation researchers have identified two prototypical functions. The first, traced by Naomi Baron back to Aristophanes around 200 BC, is assisting the reader to re-create an original oral rendition of the text, as in marking for the reader varying lengths of pause for when the text is to be read aloud. This role affirms an affinity between marks of punctuation and spoken or performed language. The second, more uniquely associated with the written text, is that of clarification of meaning and organization of units, particularly through marking syntactical relationships (20-25).( n1)“

ASSESSMENT:

The reference list is huge, and I will make use of it. Style is an academic publication of Northern Illinois University, and the author is obviously well-read and accomplished: M.A. 2005 Tel Aviv University (Summa Cum Laude) B.A. 2003 Tel Aviv University (Cum Laude)

REFLECTION:

I can use this article to back up the general point that patterns of punctuation have complex meanings and uses, especially as a means to argue that the institutionalization of language does not and cannot put a stranglehold on use and meaning. In reality, despite academics and writing purists frowning on the exclamation, it can still be used to great effect, especially as part of a greater pattern of style.

KEYWORDS AND LABELS:

punctuation, meaning, pragmatics