Feature
Language and Literature:
Separating Stone from the Sculpture
Anirban Neogi
Towards the end of the past decade an interesting debate emerged in the field of language teaching. A huge number of professionals who teach language argued that students who need to learn English should concentrate solely on language and as a corollary should not bother about literature. A line was drawn between language and literature ignoring the fact that it is the different use of language that creates literature was never clarified. The argument heated up with time and no longer was it limited to the Secondary and Higher Secondary level but had reached the tertiary level as well. As a result some universities established two separate departments called 'English Language' and 'English Literature'. At present students who want to study English face a dilemma whether they should develop their skills in English language or they should focus on English literature to improve their skill. To reach the heart of the problem, we need to reconsider our prevailing conception about language and literature.
Language constitutes literature as bricks put up a building. 'Language' from the viewpoint of Language Teaching signifies everyday language. Language teaching professionals are concerned with denotative use of language which aims at one-to-one correspondence between sign and referent. It does not draw attention to itself and directs us unambiguously and plainly to its referent. The learner is supposed to develop his proficiency in four major skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing. On the other hand, the term literature generally means imaginative literature. The language of literature is connotative, full of ambiguities and is not explicitly referential. It has an expressive function and it does not merely mean what it states, rather it attempts to influence the attitude of the reader, persuade him and ultimately create a lasting effect on him. And most importantly, in literary language, the awareness of
the sign itself, the sound symbolism of the word, is given prominence. Poets are often found to use a particular word for its own sake because the poet is fascinated by the sound or rhythm of that word. But everyday language too has its expressive function and occasionally there is awareness of the signs. The goal of everyday language is to produce instant effects, to achieve results and communicate ideas.
One must be aware of the suggestive use of language in literature. Wordsworth said that he picked up the language of his poetry from the language of ordinary people. He believed that a poet's job is to select and rectify the language of the rustic people and use it as the medium of his or her poetry. The art of literature is to polish, organize and intensify the resources of pedestrian language which results in refinement and sophistication of language. Whether in prose or in poetry, the function of literary language is to achieve certain emotional effects. To express ones mind effectively and elegantly, the author often resorts to rhetoric which enhances the force of language and facilitates the achievement of desired psychological effects. In this respect the primary tools of the author are metaphors and metonyms. Now, metaphor and metonymy are latent in much of our everyday language. In fact language itself is metaphorical.
Poetry explicitly uses and makes us conscious of this metaphorical character of language. In ordinary life one must master the art to express himself properly. A student of language must know how to organize his ideas, how to build up his arguments and how to give expression to them. Having a surge of feelings in the heart is not enough, one must have the mastery to express them, and create the same kinds of feelings in his readers' minds. But how can one express one self well if one does not master the arts of metaphor and metonymy? And how can one master the arts of metaphor and metonymy without studying literature? Great poets and prose writers possess a very high degree of linguistic proficiency alongside strong sensibility and power of observation. Literature is the store-house of tropes which is deeply rooted in history and culture of a language.
The purpose of literature is to make us see things beyond their obvious surfaces by discerning the subject matter in different way and by vesting it with an innovative and original linguistic ornament thus provide a new and strong sensation to our existing feelings. Of course, unnecessary use of expression makes the language awkward and holds back its smooth flow. Literary language does not essentially mean this kind of complicated language full of uncommon words and long-drawn-out sentences. Literature roughly means potent and elegant use of language; it has nothing to do with complexity of style. The refined language of literature exemplifies the entire historical development of that language.
So what is the difference between language and literature? How can the standard form of language be taught without teaching literature? Is it at all possible? I do not think so. Therefore, in our SSC and HSC syllabus there must be adequate inclusion of literary pieces which suit the age and linguistic competence of the young students. Students should be made aware of the authors' use of particular words and expressions, his art of developing and organizing an idea and his techniques of producing the desired psychological effects on the reader. Moreover, teachers should analyze the connotative use of words to widen the imagination of the students. The passages in the question paper can be set from comparatively easy novels or essays of renowned authors. The questions should focus on discovering the style of the author and the analysis of the text.
The style varies from writer to writer but one thing remains unchanged and that is language is the medium of literature and novelists, dramatists and poets are the master users of language. If one is to learn a language, one must analytically study the writings of most powerful authors of that language. It is utterly impossible to learn a language without studying literature of that language, and therefore there cannot be two departments in the university called 'English Language' and 'English Literature'.
(Department of English University of Rajshahi)
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