Leo Grin wrote:
>
> If "expert language" doesn't convey preciseness, then what is "expert use"? Howard
>is precise even
> when saying that something was "precisely" vague. He makes no bones about it, the
>thing in question
> is VAGUE, in shadows and out of your eyes' reach, and not subject to any "certain"
>guess by you
> concerning what it is lurking there. In other words, Howard is great at conveying
>the precise level
> of clarity or vagueness he wishes you to feel. He's not failing to get his point
>across, he's doing
> it in spades, even if only to say "this is vague". He precisely qualifies his level
>of vagueness by
> saying "the shadows obscured the creature like a curtain of black, allowing only
>beady red eyes and
> pale white teeth to show through". Not Howard's words, but they serve to show how
>he would always
> give you an example, an analogy, to feed off of. Your feet are firmly on the ground.
>
> But the main point is that Howard never was purposely vague unless it served the
>reader, instead of
> confusing him/her. Like Larry says, he was so damn confident when doing this, that
>frequently he
> gets by with precious little description at all. A simple remark about blazing blue
>eyes and
> pantherish agility serves in Howard's hands to create a whole picture in your mind.
>His lack of
> detailed descriptions wasn't meant to confuse you or leave you uncertain, he does it
>because he is
> aware that the power words he uses need little else, they get the point across just
>fine. That's
> why I keep scoffing at the attempts to "tone down" Howard[ate. He didn't leave
>it open to much
> debate. He HATED.
I really think there is a big difference between "expert use of language" and
"precision in
language." I'll have to rely first on definitions. Expert means "knowledgeable in" and
language
means "words and their use" although I prefer "a means of communication." There is
really nothing to
suggest precision. Every language is imprecise due to the multiplicity of meanings for
words and
phrases and the ways people use and abuse it. As you suggested, politicians are the
typical example
of people who speak expertly yet say nothing, therefore they are vague, but they have
used
expertness to be vague. This is classic doublespeak but I don't think when I said
"certainly true to
some degree" that I was using doublespeak. I think the words are quite clear as stated
elsewhere. To
phrase it slightly differently I said "I am certain it is true but the number of times
this is true
I am uncertain except I feel it is more true than not." I have actually said something
tangible.
Doublespeak is intended to disguise; I did not attempt to disguise anything here. I do
agree with
your own assessment that it is overly critical of an unimportant comment.
Yes, one can convey a precise message by being vague as Howard does. Some writers have
to describe
everything in detail whereas the imagination is unleashed at a vague suggestion
without being fully
detailed or precise. In fact this is preferable IMO. A truth of great writing is that
it invokes the
imagination and leaves the rest up to you. The mind and imagination can work faster to
paint a
picture than can a page of boring details that you have to paint-by-numbers on the
mind's canvass.
I think there is also a difference between Howard the writer and Bob the man and
letter writer. No
one has brought up this point yet. Two personas, two thinking hats. Was Bob the writer
aware of his
duty to his audience versus Bob the man who didn't have to care. Regardless of this,
if it was the
case, I still don't see the fervent hate bleeding through into his work.
Scotty Henderson
--
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| the Kelt, Scotty Henderson |
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