Music in the language

[Comshaw]

Here's a great article on how names sound, how musical they can be and how they are associated with particular traits.

https://www.upworthy.com/the-50-best-sounding-baby-names-science

It got me to thinking about one of the things I do, I listen for the music in the language. Once in a while I hit it right and the rhythm and tone of a sentence sounds to me like a song. The few poems I've done are the best indicator of this. It's like sitting on a beach and hearing the sound of waves. Not the big curling thunderous ones, but the small ones that whisper to you. The swishhhhhh, then the return hisssssss as the wave pulls back, stirring the sand or pea gravel as it withdraws.

Do ya'll do that? Have you heard what I'm talking about?

Comshaw

 

[MelissaBaby]

Here's a great article on how names sound, how musical they can be and how they are associated with particular traits.

https://www.upworthy.com/the-50-best-sounding-baby-names-science

It got me to thinking about one of the things I do, I listen for the music in the language. Once in a while I hit it right and the rhythm and tone of a sentence sounds to me like a song. The few poems I've done are the best indicator of this. It's like sitting on a beach and hearing the sound of waves. Not the big curling thunderous ones, but the small ones that whisper to you. The swishhhhhh, then the return hisssssss as the wave pulls back, stirring the sand or pea gravel as it withdraws.

Do ya'll do that? Have you heard what I'm talking about?

Comshaw

I know just what you are talking about, and it's one of the reasons I always read my stories aloud before I submit them.

 

[NotWise]

Do ya'll do that? Have you heard what I'm talking about?

Comshaw

I do that all the time.

One point of view might be that it's a huge waste of time because readers won't notice. That could be true, but I do it for my own entertainment, and I don't think I could stop myself.

 

[MelissaBaby]

I do that all the time.

One point of view might be that it's a huge waste of time because readers won't notice. That could be true, but I do it for my own entertainment, and I don't think I could stop myself.

I think they notice, they just don't realize they notice.

 

[NotWise]

I think they notice, they just don't realize they notice.

Could be. I'm not sure there's a way to dispute that.

 

[Bamagan]

Could be. I'm not sure there's a way to dispute that.

You could try saying, "Nuh-UH!"

 

[Kasumi_Lee]

I think they notice, they just don't realize they notice.

This is definitely true. If I can work in some alliteration into my prose, everything flows so much more smoothly, and my readers definitely notice for the better.

 

[THBGato]

Yes, I try to do this all the time. I love a bit of internal rhyme too. One of my favourite lines from one of my own stories is "too much wishful thinking and wistful drinking."

Who knows if the readers notice? Who cares? If we enjoy the writing process more because we include such elements, then that's all that matters.

 

[SkyBubble]

Here's a great article on how names sound, how musical they can be and how they are associated with particular traits.

https://www.upworthy.com/the-50-best-sounding-baby-names-science

It got me to thinking about one of the things I do, I listen for the music in the language. Once in a while I hit it right and the rhythm and tone of a sentence sounds to me like a song. The few poems I've done are the best indicator of this. It's like sitting on a beach and hearing the sound of waves. Not the big curling thunderous ones, but the small ones that whisper to you. The swishhhhhh, then the return hisssssss as the wave pulls back, stirring the sand or pea gravel as it withdraws.

Do ya'll do that? Have you heard what I'm talking about?

Comshaw

Interesting.

 

[StillStunned]

I've mentioned it here several times. Not only does it make the prose smoother and easier to read, you can use sounds and rhythm to highlight particular words. This lets you focus the reader's attention where you want it, so that specific pieces of information stick in their mind.

I wrote in the "discussing the craft of writing" thread how this is amplified in poetry, and reading poetry is a great way to learn to apply it in our own writing.

 

[Voboy]

I thought every reader did this: sort of whispering the words in their mind and thinking about how they're strung together.

I do this, but I grew up reading Tolkien. The poetry of language was very important to him.

 

[Actingup]

Yes, I try to do this all the time. I love a bit of internal rhyme too. One of my favourite lines from one of my own stories is "too much wishful thinking and wistful drinking."

Who knows if the readers notice? Who cares? If we enjoy the writing process more because we include such elements, then that's all that matters.

They notice, whether they notice that they notice or not They keep reading. Their pulses quicken more readily… their skin will glow and their juices flow. And they’ll comment and ask for more, regardless of whether they heard the words of the spell that has them in @THBGato’s thrall.

 

[SimonDoom]

I think they notice, they just don't realize they notice.

I think so too. Very few people know music theory, but they know, at an intuitive level, what works and what doesn't in music. I think it's the same with prose.

I totally agree with Comshaw on the importance of the music of words. I don't always pay as much attention to it as an author as I probably should, but sometimes I manage to turn a phrase that makes me feel good, and one of the best pleasures is when a reader tells me that I've said something well.

 

[MelissaBaby]

I think so too. Very few people know music theory, but they know, at an intuitive level, what works and what doesn't in music. I think it's the same with prose.

I totally agree with Comshaw on the importance of the music of words. I don't always pay as much attention to it as an author as I probably should, but sometimes I manage to turn a phrase that makes me feel good, and one of the best pleasures is when a reader tells me that I've said something well.

I try to be aware of it, but not give it too much focus, because I am careful not to overdue it. It defeats the purpose if it calls attention to itself.

I think your music analogy is on point.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Do ya'll do that? Have you heard what I'm talking about?

It's the only thing I pay much attention to in edit, the beat and rhythm of the prose, what I call the cadence and cascade. It pays off - readers often comment about the musicality or the poetry in my stories. It's a fundamental thing.

 

[Cagivagurl]

The stories I love the most are ones that flow... Have a cadence... Like a smoothness, and the words fit together perfectly.
I've tried many times to recreate it, but failed miserably...
It is so difficult to achieve... Finding that rhythm that fits the emotion...
Cagivagurl

 

[PapaRomantic]

Just my own observation - I think it's easier for a writer to get into a "cadence" when they are writing shorter paragraphs. I'm not good at that. Sometimes my paragraphs are way too long, but I just can't make myself break them up. A lot of writers are using two or three sentence paragraphs and in my opinion, lends itself more to a rhythm.

 

[Cagivagurl]

Just my own observation - I think it's easier for a writer to get into a "cadence" when they are writing shorter paragraphs. I'm not good at that. Sometimes my paragraphs are way too long, but I just can't make myself break them up. A lot of writers are using two or three sentence paragraphs and in my opinion, lends itself more to a rhythm.

Yes, agree entirely...
IMO... Short sentences allow the reader to breathe, and find a rhythm that fits. Like a poetry read...
The talented clever writers have the ability to find words like songwriters find lyrics.

I love to read that style of writing.

Cagivagurl