8 Famous writers’ quotes about language and creativity
The nature of language has been of interest to writers, novelists, and poets for centuries. Well-known writers have provided thoughts about what language is and what it implies: views of the world, means of expression, and different ways of living.
In this post, I will list 8 quotes from famous literary figures about language and its creative power, something that makes us (multi)cultural beings. This list includes very important literary figures, such as William Shakespeare, George Orwell, J. R. R. Tolkien, Jorge Luis Borges, Virginia Woolf, Victor Hugo, JK Rowling, and Agatha Cristie.
Thoughts about language in the literary world often refer to its immeasurable creative power and influence. Different languages are in fact different ways of experiencing life and culture. This is so true, that in many cases in our industry when adapting content from one market to another, we must talk about transcreation, a creative form of translation.
William Shakespeare about language and theater
Fie, fie upon her!
There’s language in her eye, her cheek, her lip,
Nay, her foot speaks; her wanton spirits look out
At every joint and motive of her body.
‘(Troilus And Cressida’ (1602) act 4, sc. 5, l. 54)
On top of this list is the one and only William Shakespeare. World famous English playwright, poet, and actor, he was born on 26 April 1564 and died on 23 April 1616. Author of classic plays such as Romeo and Juliet, Merchant of Venice, and Hamlet, William Shakespeare felt that our language is such a part of ourselves as our own body.
Shakespeare`s plays often speak about human nature, our instincts, desires, and conflicts. He really had a way of telling stories that referred to real life as a drama and a comedy, that never seems to go out of fashion.
A little language tip: In Shakespeare’s day, English grammar, spelling, and pronunciation were less standardized than they are now. So if you want to experience the English language in a whole new way, read one of his plays! It´s a whole different language!
Jorge Luis Borges about translation
“Translations are a partial and precious documentation of the changes the text suffers”.
Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges was born on August 24 1899 and passed away on June 14, 1986. A great novelist in Spanish literature, among his best-known work, are El Aleph, Ficciones (Spanish for “Fictions”), El libro de Arena (in Spanish: “The Book of Sand”).
Borges was also a translator, starting at the young age of nine when he translated Oscar Wilde’s The Happy Prince into Spanish. His passion for language and culture was fueled by having lived and visited many countries, such as Spain and Switzerland.
Virginia Woolf, language and the human body
“Language is wine upon the lips”.
Modernist English poet and writer Adeline Virginia Woolf was born on January 25, 1882, and died on March 28, 1941. She is credited to be an inspiration for feminism, as her work started to gain attention in the seventies.
Her lyrical approach to writing and language can be read in books such as To the Lighthouse, Mrs. Dalloway, and Her last work, Between the Acts. Virginia Woolf definitely felt that language was a powerful mechanism to put together different perspectives, characters, and narrators. This talent allowed her to use one only language almost as if it was many of them.
George Orwell about language and politics
“Language ought to be the joint creation of poets and manual workers”.
An English writer, his real name was Eric Arthur Blair, and he was born on June 25, 1903, and died on January 21, 1950. George Orwell is quite influential in today´s literature, especially with his widely famous novels Animal Farm and 1984, which helped coin the term “Orwellian” to refer to his style and ideas.
His views on language were related to politics and social criticism. Having expressed himself against any form of totalitarianism, he identified himself as a Democrat.
Agatha Christie on language and the intellect
“Words, mademoiselle, are only the outer clothing of ideas”.
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie was an English writer born on September 15, 1890, and who died on January 12, 1976. If you like mysterious stales and crime stories, perhaps you are familiar with her most famous character, detective Hercule Poirot, who she introduced in her novel The Mysterious Affair at Styles.
Agatha Christie surely knew how to build realistic situations with language. Her skills in storytelling and plot writing always configured logical and possible scenarios to develop thrilling novels that kept the readers invested.
Victor Hugo on language and society
“Human society, the world, and the whole of mankind is to be found in the alphabet”
Widely known French poet, novelist, and dramatist, Victor Hugo was born on February 26, 1802, and died on 22 May 1885. He belonged to the romantic movement, having written most notably Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Victor Hugo lived through very tumultuous times, during the rise and fall of Napoleon III. His views on mankind, culture, and language are influenced by his defense of freedom of speech and press, as well as democracy.
J. R. R. Tolkien about language, life and death
“I wish life was not so short. Languages take such a time, and so do all the things one wants to know about”.
Another well know classic: John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was an English poet and novelist born on January 3, 1892, and died on September 2, 1973. His most notable work is The Lord of the Rings series.
It is no surprise that to Tolkien´s view, language is not only a world but many worlds. He surely could make the most of language´s creative power, creating a whole universe of characters, countries, dialects, and legends. Tolkien just knew that languages were a universe to always keep exploring.
JK Rowling about language and magic
“Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it.”
When English writer Joanne Rowling created Harry Potter she created one of the most successful characters in the new millennium literature. Not only she created a series of stories, but a magical universe with a language of its own.
If you ever wondered where did she get inspiration from, it was in Porto, Portugal. She was living there at the time, working as an English language teacher when she wrote Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Livraria Lello is a book shop that took inspiration from JK Rowling series and looks just like Hogwarts library.
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Sure, we can expand this list with plenty of other writers saying about language, words, and the power of literature. If you want to read more famous quotes, you can check out my other posts about scientists' quotes on the importance of language, as well as top business personalities talking about diversity.
Image credits:
All images are taken from Wikipedia.
- William Shakespeare: Portrait of William Shakespeare.
- George Orwell: BNUJ.
- J. R. R. Tolkien: Unknown.
- Virginia Woolf: George Charles Beresford-
- JK Rowling: Daniel Ogren.