So what's wrong with exclamation marks?
They are the punctuation equivalent of the kinds of actions to which we might respond, quoting Hamlet, 'the Lady doth protest too much.' Someone writing with exclamation points in the earnestness of his strivings (and his desire to convince others) is hiding something, probably his own lack of convictions. Too many question marks can be mopey and cynical; too many exclamation points strident and overbearing. Exclamation points may be the enthusiastic cover story for beliefs that are insufficiently convincing - most of all to the one setting them forth.
So, yes, I revised the chapter.
What is your favorite form of punctuation? The mystic will like the ellipsis... The philosopher - the hyphen. My preference is for the semi-colon; and no, to the nay-sayers, it is not merely an exalted comma! Oops, am I being defensive about my punctuation preferences?
The Torah has no punctuation, but if it did, I'm sure that God would also have a preference for the semi-colon. The semi-colon is the punctuation for what Erich Auerbach called the style of 'parataxis' - the placing together of clauses without subordinating them. The juxtaposition of sentences and ideas, without subordination 'acknowledges the multiplicity of meaning and the demand for interpretation.' There is the space in between - the space guarded over by the semi-colon. The semi-colon is the punctuation that says 'darshaini' - interpret me. The semi-colon is the opening to midrash and creativity.
It's the most inviting and fertile form of punctuation; at least, that is what I think.
12 comments:
I think this best sums it up:
http://youtu.be/tq-z2dvX0uY
the athnachta in pesukim functions rather like a semi-colon. There are particular rules for using semi-colons and commas; they are not interchangeable.
I hated that movie! And as for the literary criticism of the film - do you know it was Mike Nicols?; he made the graduate! - I don't agree. Semi-colons are not periods; they are not full stops.
And that was an impressive display Ariella: I think what J.L Austin would call a performative sentence, enacting what it says.
Fascinating idea.That would explain why Levinas's writings abound with semi-colons; they really do seem to signify how alterity "overflows" the inevitable limits of language.
Lindsey - alterity - that's what I'm talking about!
I think there is another reason to avoid too many exclamation points. It's the equivalent of putting in no exclamation points at all. Speakers and writers who alternate between quiet and passionate emphasis are the most appreciated. It shows there are differences between things you're saying. It says "Here, pay special close attention now! Everything is not all the same.
I teach kindergarten, and have discovered that early childhood educators are the very worst offenders when it comes to overuse of exclamation points. Drives me crazy.
I also like the modulation that variety of punctuation affords.
I can understand the child educator's thing; the exclamation mark shows enthusiasm. But too much waters it down, and is irritating.
I have been editing out all of the exclamation marks in OMT, the book. But I did, today, choose to keep in just one. The whole book is about fifty-five thousand words - there goes my quota.
I saw a comedic sketch the other day on t.v. where the comedian said the colon and especially the semi colon have never had so much attention since the internet. He went on to say how his wife saw an email from an old girlfriend ended with a semi colon and how the semi colon nearly ruined his marriage ;)
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