The building blocks of any work of written fiction are words. Even the process of world-building is carried out through (arrangement of) words. Words form the skeletal frame of the narrative, with the gaps or blanks being filled in by the readers (reading between the lines), and as readers may have ways of perceiving as diverse as their numbers, multiplicity of interpretation is born. Just as the construction of a fictional world follows a certain logic so does the organization of words. According to W.H. Auden, even the fairytale universe does not escape the rigorous logic of language, that "[it] must make sense as a grammatical proposition". But even tight and well-defined fictional settings, must give leeway when it comes to characters, esp. in terms of their motivations and the inner workings of their minds. And the same goes for words (or more precisely, their meanings) within the framework of the narrative. The reason why language makes sense is because of its flexibility; as a concept, it is similar to that the malleability of steel beams in construction. Imagine a written piece where words carry only 'fixed' meanings; even a small attempt of such in Lewis Carroll's "Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There", in its "rigid conformity to the logical demands of language" and its fixation with only the 'literal' definitions of words, leads to what is often referred to as a piece of "nonsense" literature. Just some mindless ramblings on ambivalence, syntax and interpretations which may or may not be on point. Ciao!
Most authors don't take the effort to create a new structure for language in different worlds, but if they did, the better written works would be very easy to identify. It's something only experienced authors should try imo. (I don't really know if I understood that correctly......)
but too vague construction can also make the story sound too much trying to mysterious no? while it can excuse as plus it also can interpret as minus~ sure it back to reader again but if the intention of author misinterpreted by reader cuz the vague construction then deal with it~
I don't particularly understand what the core argument of the post is supposed to be. Then again, it does list a disclaimer as mindless rambling.
I was just going through Carroll's "Through the Looking Glass" again and it suddenly struck me how it makes no sense precisely because language is not used as 'loosely' in that world as in our everyday life. While it's true our language is bound by the rules of grammar and syntax, it's also undeniable that not enforcing any such rules on 'meanings' is what makes language comprehensible, even when it gives rise to ambiguity which is both necessary and unwelcome.
I see. I think language itself is a naturally limiting system because there exists no method to express an idea in its exact profile. To venture on such a task would generate an infinite list of words, yet such a list would still be unable to express ideas of individual variation precisely. Not only would this be a useless endeavour, but its speakers would also never hear, learn, or remember most of the words, anyways. Syntactic structure is the foundation of human communication. Without it, nothing can be understood because humans lack any other method of communication. Had a human been innately capable of transmitting thought, a language itself is unnecessary. You also mention Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There is "a written piece where words carry only 'fixed' meanings." Would you share a small excerpt of the novel that you believe is a great example for it?
hmm that depend on the language system itself or if we try to be specific what kind of language~ sure each language have grammatical stuff or guidelines to make sure the user can communicate correctly but on speaking style there more informal way compare to formal which may unintentionally broke the system~ such approach may used on writing system although to understand it depend on the language used on delivering the idea, the more reader and author stick to grammatical rule and stuff the more potential miscommunication~ on such occasion informal speaking pattern may help or experience of children talk~ children which limited knowledge on vocabulary may try inform other on kinda different way using word they know~ this exclude on thing such as pun tho~ basically knowledge about different language system may put people have different pov about word construction, diction or composition to deliver an idea~ maybe for those who only know one system think it weird~ hmmm try compare english language and japan language, they have different way on structure of course there still thing that hard to explain using any known word on any language so the author will try use thing within it ability to express it~ the perfect example is poem~ using words to explain word~ this cat think that is the thing this thread try to convey maybe?