That’s an interesting perspective. I wouldn’t have described poetry writing as being a clear case of 1), since on my model ordinary thoughts already spawn in language, and so wouldn’t require “translation” rather than just massaging or reshaping into cool sentences. The model you suggest, where for experienced writers their poetic thoughts spawn ex nihilo rather than being the result of this sort of massaging, seems plausible as well.
One example I like is Eminem’s line “I make elevating music, you make elevator music”. The meaning behind the line is unremarkable: “I’m better at music than you”. But it works so well on the level of language, it’s clear that it was born in the form of language straight away. I think all good writing (rap, poetry, prose) is full of this kind of thing.
Thank you!
That’s an interesting perspective. I wouldn’t have described poetry writing as being a clear case of 1), since on my model ordinary thoughts already spawn in language, and so wouldn’t require “translation” rather than just massaging or reshaping into cool sentences. The model you suggest, where for experienced writers their poetic thoughts spawn ex nihilo rather than being the result of this sort of massaging, seems plausible as well.
One example I like is Eminem’s line “I make elevating music, you make elevator music”. The meaning behind the line is unremarkable: “I’m better at music than you”. But it works so well on the level of language, it’s clear that it was born in the form of language straight away. I think all good writing (rap, poetry, prose) is full of this kind of thing.