Authenticating voice : authenticating culture

Abstract

Herein, 'natural voice' is a concept described as that unconscious, unsolicited language of day-to-day discourse. It is that 'comfortable' language of a speech community which fosters variation and creative expression in order to enhance cultural bonding among its members. This language of the masses, due to its lack of adherence to purist 'standards' (which govern the written word) is left without authentic historical representation. Its true voice silenced, my intent is to instill an awareness of the need to document diversities of voice in order to more accurately depict the cultural practices of speakers. Further, as literature has traditionally been a medium for cultural record-keeping, I see the poet (with an acute ear for language and skilled at manipulating the mother tongue) as historian. Better affording future generations adequate cultural representations of peoples, likewise, I feel that the validation of natural voices, accomplished via comprehensive recordings of verbal discourse, will work towards a complete truing of cultures.

Notes

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Thesis Completion

1999

Semester

Spring

Advisor

Campbell, James

Degree

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

English

Degree Program

English

Subjects

Arts and Sciences -- Dissertations, Academic;Dissertations, Academic -- Arts and Sciences;Colloquial language;Heaney, Seamus -- 1939- -- Criticism and interpretation;Levine, Philip -- 1928- -- Criticism and interpretation;Walcott, Derek -- Criticism and interpretation

Format

Print

Identifier

DP0021594

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Document Type

Honors in the Major Thesis

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