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January 17, 2008
Faulkner's Language of Negation
"Unvanquished" not triumphant--but unvanquished has exactly no meaning, or the minimal meaning of "remaining the same--the existant," because it is the definition of a state that has failed to exist.
"Unsentient," non-sentient and perhaps less--refusing sentience.
Faulkner often takes words that have opposites in English that are not formed by a/un/dis or other such prefixes and creates them--unsolid, unstolid, unforetold, these are like the words Faulkner would invent. And yet each of his "uns" is deliberate, chosen, meaningful, and rich. A language abounding in invention and intention, nuanced, lithe, and flexible in the way few others are.
Posted by Steven Riddle at January 17, 2008 8:12 AM
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