Syntax Linguistics and Poetic Applications

What is Syntax? Syntax in its most common form refers to word order. As English speakers, we have a natural understanding of syntactic structure. Using the sentence below (which is written grammatically correctly), explain how English syntax is most commonly structured by identifying the parts of speech: – George walked his brown dog. – The man ate rabbit for dinner.

Exploring Syntax English follows this general structure: – Main Noun – Main Verb (Also known as subject – predicate). – The man ate rabbit for dinner.. – George walked his brown dog. However, other languages follow other patterns or have transposable syntax. However, for English, the main noun must remain in a distinct place in relation to the main verb in order to make logical sense. With the sentences above, change the order of the words to change the meaning.

Other Contributing Factors In poetry, syntax is often changed by the following factors: – Transient Adjectives: moving the adjective about in a line to improve imagery. The fluttering clothes blew in the light breeze.  The clothes fluttering blew breezing light. – Line length: poets often alter line length to shape stanzas to a particular form. – Semantic deviation: using a word in an unusual way that changes its part of speech. The work exhausted me a grief ago. – Punctuation: using marks of punctuation such as ellipses, semicolons, colons, periods, and commas to separate or conjoin ideas in prose. (...) often creates expectation. (,) (-) usually helps to transition to a similar idea or theme. (.) ends a particular theme before starting a new one. (:) notifies the reader that lines to come are a contributing factor to the previous.

Why Change Syntax? If basic English syntax is understood, why change it in the first place? Clip One: Clip Two: Clip Three:

Why Change Syntax? While changing meaning, altering syntax also has a huge effect on mood: – Can create a humorous, mysterious, or even unusual mood. When syntax alterations are applied to speech, it changes tone tremendously. – The Sheriff of Rottingham – idiocy, confusion. – Yoda – mysterious, wise. – Tonto – unintelligent, faithful.

Emily Dickinson One of the great maestros of syntax. Analyze the poems on the next page for the following: – Poetic devices: Which are present? – Theme: What is the lesson? – Punctuation: What purpose does it serve? – Mood: How is it effected by syntax?

I Felt a Funeral In My Brain I felt a Funeral, in my Brain, And Mourners to and fro Kept treading - treading - till it seemed That Sense was breaking through - And when they all were seated, A Service, like a Drum - Kept beating - beating - till I thought My mind was going numb - And then I heard them lift a Box And creak across my Soul With those same Boots of Lead, again, Then Space - began to toll, As all the Heavens were a Bell, And Being, but an Ear, And I, and Silence, some strange Race, Wrecked, solitary, here - And then a Plank in Reason, broke, And I dropped down, and down - And hit a World, at every plunge, And Finished knowing - then -

Because I Could Not Stop For Death Because I could not stop for Death-- He kindly stopped for me-- The Carriage held but just Ourselves-- And Immortality. We slowly drove--He knew no haste And I had put away My labor and my leisure too, For His Civility-- We passed the School, where Children strove At Recess--in the Ring-- We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain-- We passed the Setting Sun– Or rather--He passed us-- The Dews drew quivering and chill-- For only Gossamer, my Gown-- My Tippet--only Tulle-- We paused before a House that seemed A Swelling of the Ground-- The Roof was scarcely visible-- The Cornice--in the Ground-- Since then--'tis Centuries--and yet Feels shorter than the Day I first surmised the Horses' Heads Were toward Eternity--