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Review #4752992
Viewing a review of:
 The Language Purist  [13+]
A satirical poem on linguistic purism.
by Carl Brianson
In affiliation with The WDC Angel Army  
Rated: 13+ | (5.0)
Access:  Public | Hide Review (?)
Hello Carl,

After reading your satirical poem "The Language Purist," I was drawn into a remarkable, whimsical narrative with its witty commentary on linguistic purism. The poem opening, with a humorous scenario of a language purist encountering unfamiliar dialectical expressions while shopping for a car, was a great beginning. This sets the stage for a delightful exploration of language, identity, and the absurdity of prescriptive grammar rules.

Stylistically, your poem exhibits as playful and irreverent in tone, which complements the satirical nature of your subject matter. The use of colloquial language and regional dialects adds authenticity to these characters and to dialogue, allowing readers to ability to vividly imagine the scene unfolding before them. This stylistic choice enhances the poem's humor and relatability, inviting readers to laugh along with the absurdity of the purist's reactions.

Thematically, "The Language Purist" serves as a critique of linguistic elitism and the misguided notion of linguistic purity. Through the exaggerated character of the purist, you effectively highlight the absurdity of imposing rigid linguistic standards on diverse and dynamic speech communities. The purist's stubborn refusal to accept the validity of colloquial expressions ultimately leads to his demise, underscoring the folly of linguistic intolerance. Something of irony in this gives one a smirk.

Poetic devices such as irony and hyperbole are employed skillfully throughout the poem, enriching the reader's engagement and understanding. The irony of the purist's obsession with linguistic correctness, juxtaposed with his ultimate downfall, adds depth and nuance to the narrative. Additionally, the hyperbolic nature of the purist's reaction to the dialectical expression "yall'll" underscores the absurdity of his rigid adherence to prescriptive grammar rules.

With regards to any suggestions that might improve, I usually suggest going over the poem structure where you might ways to punctuate messages or help the read with varied stanza structures or line lengths to enhance the poem's visual appeal and rhythmic flow. Additionally, exploring additional instances of linguistic variation and dialectical expressions could further enrich the poem's satirical commentary on language diversity and identity. I come from da Upper Peninsula of Michigan (Yooper) and we got quite a mix, foremost the Finlanders. I totally relate to how common folk can color up the language, like poetry.

Overall, your poetic offering was a delightful romp through the absurdities of linguistic prescriptivism, offering readers a relatable subject that offers both laughter and food for thought. Your adept use of humor, satire, and poetic devices makes this poem a memorable and thought-provoking exploration of language and society. This was a pleasure to discover when I first discovered it during my Anniversary Reviews phase awhile back but took a break from this scene.

Sincerely,

Brian
WDC Angel Army Reviewer
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I did the best I could with low vision, having developed blind spots recently that cause me to lose words between my eyes...seem to want to work apart instead of together. *Laugh* I'd like it to be temporary but with glaucoma this vision is terminal. Apologies for any errors or structurally confusing comments.

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