Abstract
Destruction at least ten times emphasized – an interpretation of 'Kraak die aardbol langs ’n naat' ('Cracking the earth along the seam') by Wilma Stockenström In this article the value of syntactical analysis in the interpretation of a poem is investigated from the premise that emphasis can be effected inter alia in the following ways: (a) by contravening certain rules that apply in standard language usage in order to compose grammatical sentences, b) the exploitation of parallel syntactical structures, and c) the relationship between sentence unit and line, and line and/or stanza. These theoretical points of departure form the basis of the syntactical analysis of “Kraak die aardbol langs ’n naat” (Wilma Stockenström), in which there are numerous deviations from the expected, normal and usual ways of constructing sentences. It is by these means that the semantic values gain prominence: the attention is drawn to the deviating behaviour of mankind continuing to destruct the earth until nothing remains. It is evident that the repeated use of irony and the satirical tone of this poem also contribute to persuade the reader to behave in a way opposite to that depicted in the poem. In this way the value of a syntactical analysis of this poem is illustrated. By uncovering the micro-structures (syntactical units) within the (macro-) structure (the poem), underlying patterns and the place of humanity in the universe can be better understood. In this way the analysis of this poem is then linked to the field of ecocriticism.
Highlights
In Wilma Stockenström se gedig “Kraak die aardbol langs ’n naat” in Monsterverse (1984) word daar herhaaldelik satiries-onvleiend kommentaar gelewer op die mens se monsteragtige vermoë om af te breek
As verder in ag geneem word dat hierdie sin die tweede strofe, wat veral deur sintaktiese reduksie gekenmerk word, inlui, is dit duidelik waarom die weggelate items as medebepaler van die argument van die sin juis nié teenwoordig moet wees in die sin nie en daarom maksimaal gereleveer word tot dié semantiese waarde: daar is niks/ daar gebeur niks meer nie/ daar het niks oorgebly om met menslike tegniese vaardighede en vernuf te ontgin of met wetenskaplike metodes en redeneringsvermoë te ondersoek en te beskryf nie
Die waarde van die uitwerking van die gedig kan op verskeie wyses beredeneer en geformuleer word, waarvan een moontlikheid is dat die ongeërgde, destruktiewe mens opgeroep word tot nadenke en ’n verandering van ingesteldheid in die wyse waarop hy met die aarde in interaksie tree sodat die teendeel kan gebeur
Summary
In Wilma Stockenström se gedig “Kraak die aardbol langs ’n naat” in Monsterverse (1984) word daar herhaaldelik satiries-onvleiend kommentaar gelewer op die mens se monsteragtige vermoë om af te breek. Die taalaanbod as sodanig blyk ’n boeiende invalshoek vir die bestudering van hierdie gedig te wees. Die aanleun by die taalkunde – in hierdie geval sintaktiese patrone in “Kraak die aardbol langs ’n naat” – kan heelwat bykomende winste vir die literêre insig en waardering van die gedig oplewer. Soos wat die semiotiese bespreek van ’n teken leeg sal wees as die betekenis nie ook ter sprake kom nie, so kan daar ook nie slegs op die sintaksis van die gedig gekonsentreer word nie – die verband met die semantiek sal deurentyd (al is dit tersyde) ter sprake kom
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