Nonsense
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| '''Nonsense''' is an [[utterance]] or written text in what appears to be a human [[language]] or other symbolic system, that does not in fact carry any identifiable [[meaning]]. | '''Nonsense''' is an [[utterance]] or written text in what appears to be a human [[language]] or other symbolic system, that does not in fact carry any identifiable [[meaning]]. | ||
| + | == Literary nonsense == | ||
| + | The phrase “[[Colorless green ideas sleep furiously]]” was coined by [[Noam Chomsky]] as an example of nonsense. The individual words make sense, and are arranged according to proper [[grammar|grammatical rules]], yet the result is still nonsense. The inspiration for this attempt at creating verbal nonsense came from the idea of [[contradiction]] and irrelevant or immaterial characteristics (an idea cannot have a dimension of [[color]], green or otherwise), both of which would be sure to make a phrase meaningless. The phrase “the square root of Tuesday” operates on the latter principle. This principle is behind the inscrutability of the ''[[koan]]'' “What is the sound of one hand clapping?” One hand would presumably require another hand to complete the definition of clapping. | ||
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| + | Still, the human will to find meaning is strong; ''green ideas'' might be ideas associated with a [[Green party]] in politics, and ''colorless green ideas'' criticizes some of them as uninspiring. For some, the human impulse to find meaning in what is actually random or nonsensical is what makes people find [[luck]] in [[coincidence]], believe in [[omen]]s and [[divination]], or engage in conversation with a computer (see [[ELIZA effect]]). | ||
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| + | The dreamlike language of [[James Joyce]]’s “novel” ''[[Finnegans Wake]]'' sheds light on nonsense in a similar way; full of [[portmanteau]] words, it ''appears'' to be pregnant with multiple layers of meaning, but in many passages it is difficult to say whether any one person’s interpretation of a text is the “intended” or “correct” one. There may in fact be no such interpretation. | ||
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| + | “[[Jabberwocky]]” is a [[poem]] (of [[nonsense verse]]) found in ''[[Through the Looking-Glass|Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There]]'' (1871) by [[Lewis Carroll]]. It is generally considered to be one of the greatest nonsense poems written in the English language. The word “jabberwocky” is also occasionally used as a synonym of nonsense. | ||
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| + | === Nonsense verse === | ||
| + | [[Nonsense verse]] is the verse form of [[literary nonsense]], a genre that can manifest in many other ways. Nonsense verse represents a long tradition; its best known exponent is [[Edward Lear]], author of ''The Owl and the Pussycat'' and hundreds of [[limerick (poetry)|limericks]]. | ||
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| + | Nonsense verse comes from a tradition older than Lear; the [[nursery rhyme]] ''[[Hey Diddle Diddle]]'' is also a sort of nonsense verse. There are also some things which ''appear'' to nonsense verse, but actually are not, such as the popular 1940s song “[[Mairzy Doats]].” | ||
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| + | Lines of nonsense frequently figure in the [[refrain]]s of [[folksong]]s. Nonsense [[riddle]]s and [[knock-knock joke]]s are seen often. [[Lewis Carroll]], seeking a nonsense riddle, once posed the question ''How is a [[Common Raven|raven]] like a writing desk?'' But someone answered him, ''Because [[Edgar Allan Poe|Poe]] wrote on both.'' However, there are different answers ([[e.g.]] both have inky [[quill]]s). | ||
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Nonsense is an utterance or written text in what appears to be a human language or other symbolic system, that does not in fact carry any identifiable meaning.
Literary nonsense
The phrase “Colorless green ideas sleep furiously” was coined by Noam Chomsky as an example of nonsense. The individual words make sense, and are arranged according to proper grammatical rules, yet the result is still nonsense. The inspiration for this attempt at creating verbal nonsense came from the idea of contradiction and irrelevant or immaterial characteristics (an idea cannot have a dimension of color, green or otherwise), both of which would be sure to make a phrase meaningless. The phrase “the square root of Tuesday” operates on the latter principle. This principle is behind the inscrutability of the koan “What is the sound of one hand clapping?” One hand would presumably require another hand to complete the definition of clapping.
Still, the human will to find meaning is strong; green ideas might be ideas associated with a Green party in politics, and colorless green ideas criticizes some of them as uninspiring. For some, the human impulse to find meaning in what is actually random or nonsensical is what makes people find luck in coincidence, believe in omens and divination, or engage in conversation with a computer (see ELIZA effect).
The dreamlike language of James Joyce’s “novel” Finnegans Wake sheds light on nonsense in a similar way; full of portmanteau words, it appears to be pregnant with multiple layers of meaning, but in many passages it is difficult to say whether any one person’s interpretation of a text is the “intended” or “correct” one. There may in fact be no such interpretation.
“Jabberwocky” is a poem (of nonsense verse) found in Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There (1871) by Lewis Carroll. It is generally considered to be one of the greatest nonsense poems written in the English language. The word “jabberwocky” is also occasionally used as a synonym of nonsense.
Nonsense verse
Nonsense verse is the verse form of literary nonsense, a genre that can manifest in many other ways. Nonsense verse represents a long tradition; its best known exponent is Edward Lear, author of The Owl and the Pussycat and hundreds of limericks.
Nonsense verse comes from a tradition older than Lear; the nursery rhyme Hey Diddle Diddle is also a sort of nonsense verse. There are also some things which appear to nonsense verse, but actually are not, such as the popular 1940s song “Mairzy Doats.”
Lines of nonsense frequently figure in the refrains of folksongs. Nonsense riddles and knock-knock jokes are seen often. Lewis Carroll, seeking a nonsense riddle, once posed the question How is a raven like a writing desk? But someone answered him, Because Poe wrote on both. However, there are different answers (e.g. both have inky quills).
