Language as Prosthesis

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L A N G U A G E A S P R O S T H E S I S : T H E R E E M B O D I M E N T O F F O U R D I S A B L E D A U T H O R S B Y D O R O T H Y D U B R U L E A T he s i s S ubm i t t e d t o t he D i vi s i on o f H um a ni t i e s N e w C ol l e ge of F l o r i da i n pa r t i a l f ul f i l l m e nt of t he r e qui r e m e nt s f o r t he de gr e e B a c he l or of A r t s U nde r t he s pons or s hi p of D r A pr i l F l a kne a nd D r R obe r t Z a m s ky S a r a s ot a F l or i da A pr i l 2009

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i i T a bl e of Co nt e n t s A bs t r a c t i i i I nt r oduc t i on C ha pt e r 1: T he P hi l os ophy of M e r l e a u P ont y 6 C ha pt e r 2: T he P oe t r y of J or da n S c ot t a nd L a r r y E i gne r 24 C ha pt e r 3: T he M e m oi r s of J e a n D om i ni que B a uby a nd C hr i s t ophe r N ol a n C onc l us i on . 81 B i bl i ogr a phy. . 88

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i i i L A N G U A G E A S P R O S T H E S I S : T H E R E E M B O D I M E N T O F F O U R D I S A B L E D A U T H O R S D or ot hy D ubr ul e N e w C ol l e ge of F l o r i da 2009 A B S T R A C T W i t hi n t he w or ks o f f our d i s a bl e d a ut hor s l a ngua g e r e ve a l s i t s e l f a s a pr os t he t i c s e ns e or ga n. A s pr os t he s i s l a ngua ge i s of t he body pa r t i c i pa t i ng i n a n ongoi ng pr oc e s s of r e e m bodi m e nt w he r e i n t he r e l a t i ons hi p be t w e e n t he di s a bl e d a ut hor a nd t he w or l d i s a f f e c t e d by hi s w r i t i ng F r e nc h phe nom e nol ogi s t M a ur i c e M e r l e a u P ont y pr ovi de s a f r a m e w or k f or unde r s t a ndi ng t he c ons t i t ut i on o f a body s ubj e c t i n i t s s e ns uous di a l ogue w i t h t he w or l d. I n f l ue nc e d by t he phi l os ophi c a l w or ks of M e r l e a u P ont y a m ong ot h e r s a gr oup of A m e r i c a n w r i t e r s c a l l i ng t he m s e l ve s L a ngua ge poe t s s e e k t o r e ve a l l a ngua ge a s our pr i m a r y m ode of pe r c e pt i on. W hi l e t he i r i ndi vi dua l pr oj e c t s de vi a t e f r om one a not he r s i gni f i c a nt l y, t he L a ngua ge poe t s s ha r e d i nt e r e s t i n c om pl i c a t i ng t he r e l a t i ons hi p be t w e e n l a ngua ge a nd a ut he nt i c i t y d r i ve s a uni f i e d r e p r e s e nt a t i on of a ut hor i a l voi c e a s t he r e pr e s e nt a t i on of a pa r t i c i pa t i on i n a s e t of p r e e xi s t i ng di s c our s e s C ha r l e s B e r ns t e i n, a pr om i ne nt w r i t e r a s s oc i a t e d w i t h t he L a ngua ge

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i v poe t s c l a i m s t ha t i de nt i t y i s c ons t r uc t e d l i ngui s t i c a l l y. W hi l e B e r ns t e i n a nd hi s c ol l e a gue s e na bl e a n a ppr oa c h t o t e xt s t ha t f oc us e s on s t yl e r a t he r c ont e nt t he y a r e i nt e r e s t e d i n l a ngua ge a nd not i t s r e l a t i ons hi p t o t he body. M e r l e a u P ont y s e m pha s i s on t he i nt e r t w i ni ng of t he body w i t h l a ng ua ge a s a ddr e s s e d i n hi s e s s a y, T he I nt e r t w i ni ng : T he C hi a s m s ugge s t s a n a ppr oa c h t o t he p r e s e nc e of t he body t ha t uni f i e s t he t e xt w hi l e r e m a i ni ng i m pe r c e pt i bl e T he a ut hor s t ha t I w i l l a ddr e s s a r e : J or da n S c ot t a C a na di a n poe t w i t h a s t ut t e r L a r r y E i gne r a n A m e r i c a n poe t w i t h c e r e b r a l pa l s y, J e a n D om i ni que B a uby, a F r e nc h m a ga z i ne e di t or w ho w r ot e a m e m oi r w hi l e s uf f e r i ng f r om l oc ke d i n s yndr om e a nd C hr i s t ophe r N ol a n a n I r i s h a ut hor w i t h c e r e b r a l pa l s y. D r A p r i l F l a kne D i vi s i on of H um a ni t i e s D r R obe r t Z a m s ky D i vi s i on of H um a ni t i e s

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1 Int r odu c t i o n T e xt s of di s a bl e d a ut hor s of t e n de s c r i be t he body a s a de t a c ha bl e obj e c t a nd t he a c t of w r i t i ng a s a t r a ns c e nde nc e of t he i r p hys i c a l di s a bi l i t y. H ow e ve r t he a c t of w r i t i ng i s a phys i c a l a c t a nd m e a ni ng ha s i t s or i gi n i n t he body. I n or de r t o unde r s t a nd t he body s i nvol ve m e nt i n t e xt l a ngua ge m us t be c ons i de r e d a s pr os t he s i s t o t he body, i n t he s a m e w a y t ha t a s ynt he t i c l i m b r e pl a c e s t he l e g of a n a m put e e T he p r os t he s i s i s not m e r e l y a n a ugm e nt a t i on, but a ne w o r ga n t ha t c ha nge s one s e xpe r i e nc e of e m bodi m e nt A s F r e n c h phe nom e nol ogi s t M a ur i c e M e r l e a u P ont y w r i t e s i n P he nom e nol ogy of P e r c e pt i on : t he pr oc e s s of e xpr e s s i on, w he n i t i s s uc c e s s f ul do e s not m e r e l y l e a ve f or t he r e a de r a nd t he w r i t e r hi m s e l f a ki nd o f r e m i nde r i t br i ngs t he m e a ni ng i n t o e xi s t e nc e a s a t hi ng a t t he ve r y he a r t o f t he t e xt i t br i ngs i t t o l i f e i n a n o r ga ni s m of w or ds e s t a bl i s hi ng i t i n t he w r i t e r or r e a de r a s a ne w s e ns e or ga n, ope ni ng a ne w f i e l d o r a ne w di m e ns i on t o our e xpe r i e nc e ( 212 ) T he c ol l e c t i ve pr oj e c t of a gr ou p of poe t s c a l l i ng t he m s e l ve s t he L a ngua ge poe t s t a ke s up M e r l e a u P ont y s c onne c t i on of l a ngua ge w i t h pe r c e pt i on, t hough t he y do not e xt e nd t hi s c onne c t i on t o t he body T he L a ngua ge poe t s e nde a vor t o r e ve a l l a ngua ge a s our pr i m a r y m ode o f e xpe r i e nc i ng t h e w or l d. W hi l e t he i r i ndi vi dua l w or ks va r y gr e a t l y f r om one a not he r a s a gr oup t h e y a r e i nt e r e s t e d i n t he

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2 c om pl i c a t e d r e l a t i ons hi ps be t w e e n s ubj e c t i vi t y, r e a l i t y, a nd l a ngua ge T he L a ngua ge poe t s s ugge s t a n a ppr oa c h t o a n a ut ho r s s t yl e t ha t l ooks be yond t he c ont e nt of t he i r t e xt a nd t ow a r ds t he i r us e of l a ngu a ge C ha r l e s B e r ns t e i n, a pr om i ne nt L a ngua ge poe t e m pha s i z e s t he r ol e of l a ngua ge a s i t pr e c e de s i de nt i t y, w hi l e c l a i m i ng W e a r e e ve r yw he r e s e e i ng t hr oug h [ l a ngua ge ] l i m i t e d t o i t but not by i t ( L B 44) B e r ns t e i n e voke s M e r l e a u P ont y s pr oj e c t i n hi s e m pha s i s of t he ope n e nde d na t ur e o f l a ngua ge : ou r e xpe r i e nc e of l a ngua ge i s a n e ndl e s s pr oc e s s H ow e ve r M e r l e a u P ont y s l a t e r w or k r e l a t e s t hi s pr oc e s s t o t ha t of e m bodi m e nt W hi l e t he L a ngua ge poe t s e nc our a ge a di s c us s i on of t e xt s t ha t e m pha s i z e s l a ngua ge us e a bove c ont e nt M e r l e a u P ont y pr ovi de s a n a pp r oa c h t o t he w or ks of di s a bl e d a ut hor s w he r e i n l a ngua ge a c t s a s pr os t he s i s t o t he i r bodi e s s uc h t ha t t he y a r e r e e m bodi e d i n t he i r w r i t i ng F ol l ow i n g i n t he phe nom e nol ogi c a l t r a di t i on o f E d m und H us s e r l M e r l e a u P ont y f oc us e s hi s phi l os ophi c a l pr oj e c t i n oppos i t i on t o C a r t e s i a n m i nd/ body dua l i s m t ha t de pi c t s t he body a s a m a t e r i a l e nt i t y s e pa r a bl e f r om t he m i nd. H e i ns t e a d pos i t s a body s ubj e c t w hi c h i s a l w a ys i n di a l ogue w i t h t he w or l d, a nd c ons t i t ut e d i n i t s be i ng s i t ua t e d i n t he w or l d. I n P he nom e nol ogy of P e r c e pt i on he de s c r i be s a t e l e ol ogi c a l i nt e nt i ona l i t y t ha t uni f i e s t he body, a s i nc a r na t e i nt e nt i ona l i t y, i n i t s p r oj e c t i on t ow a r ds t he w or l d H i s l a t e r w or k i s c r i t i c a l of t e l e ol ogi c a l i nt e nt i ona l i t y due t o i t s r e l i a nc e on a c ons c i ous ne s s t ha t or de r s t he body I n i t s pl a c e he pr opos e s a s t yl e t ha t bot h e nc om pa s s e s t he t e nde nc i e s a nd pa t t e r ns of t he body a nd i s pe r m e a bl e t o a l t e r a t i ons T he s e a l t e r a t i ons i nnova t e t he e xpe r i e nc e of e m bodi m e nt i n one s r e l a t i ons hi p t o t he

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3 w or l d, a nd a r e e xpr e s s e d i n t he t a ki ng up of ha bi t s F or e xa m pl e w he n a pe r s on s pr a i ns a n a nkl e he o r s he w i l l put m o r e w e i ght on t he uni nj ur e d f oot t o w a l k a c r os s a r oom M e r l e a u P ont y de s c r i be s l a ngua ge a s a bodi l y e xpr e s s i on. H e us e s t he t e r m ge s t ur a l m e a ni ng t o i ndi c a t e t he c om m un i c a t i ve na t ur e of e m bodi e d l a ngua ge a nd t o r e ve a l t he i m pos s i bi l i t y of non l i n gui s t i c t hought T o ge s t i c ul a t e w i t h w or ds i s t o c r e a t e m e a ni ng t ha t c a n be c om m uni c a t e d t o ot he r s W i t hi n i nt e r s ubj e c t i ve di s c our s e pe r s pe c t i ve s a r e s ha r e d l i ngui s t i c a l l y. M e r l e a u P ont y de s c r i be s t he r e l a t i ons hi p be t w e e n ge s t ur e a nd pe r c e pt i on i n s t a t i ng, T he s poke n w or d i s a ge s t ur e a nd i t s m e a ni ng, a w or l d ( P P 2 14 ) I t i s i n t hi s s e ns e t ha t ve r ba l e xpr e s s i on pr e s e nt s i t s e l f a s ne w s e ns e or ga n a s a m ode of r e l a t i ng t o t he w or l d. T he w or k of c ont e m po r a r y C a na di a n poe t J or da n S c ot t e xe m pl i f i e s t he w or d s c a pa c i t y t o ope n up pe r c e pt i on S c ot t s pe a ks w i t h a s t ut t e r t ha t of t e n r e nde r s hi s s pe e c h i nc om pr e he ns i bl e a s hi s t ongue s t um bl e s ove r t he w or ds H i s poe t r y i s a n a t t e m pt t o t r a ns c r i be hi s s t ut t e r i ng s pe e c h i n a w a y t ha t r e ve a l s t he i nne r w or ki ngs of l a ngua ge S c ot t s r e a de r w ho m os t l i ke l y doe s not s pe a k w i t h a s t ut t e r i s a bl e t o a c c e s s t he e xpe r i e nc e of l a ngua ge a s a r ol l i ng ga i t o f w or ds w i t hi n w or ds t hr ough hi s poe t r y ( D r unke n B oa t 2006 E di t i on ) T he r e a de r m us t be pa t i e nt i n r e a di ng hi s w or k a nd i s not r e w a r de d w i t h f a m i l i a r i t y S c ot t s w or k e voke s B e r ns t e i n s a dvoc a c y f or a c ont i nua l l y c ha l l e ngi ng r e l a t i ons hi p w i t h l a ngua ge s ugge s t i ng t ha t a poe t i c e nga ge m e nt w i t h l a ngua ge s houl d be a di f f i c ul t

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4 one I n t hi s w a y, S c ot t s s t ut t e r i ng poe t r y of f e r s a uni que l y ba r e r e p r e s e nt a t i on of s uc h di f f i c ul t y. L a r r y E i gne r a n A m e r i c a n poe t a s s oc i a t e d w i t h t h e L a ngua ge poe t s e xpe r i e nc e d a m or e s e ve r e s pe e c h i m pe di m e nt t ha n S c ot t s s t ut t e r E i gne r w a s bor n w i t h c e r e b r a l pa l s y, a nd w a s t hought t o be un a bl e t o us e l a ngua ge unt i l a ge 18 w he n he be ga n t o us e a t ype w r i t e r H e l i v e d t he m a j or i t y of h i s l i f e i n a w he e l c ha i r on t he po r c h of hi s pa r e nt s hom e i n M a s s a c hu s e t t s be f or e hi s de a t h i n 1996. H i s poe t r y, how e ve r doe s not r e f e r t o hi s l a c k of m obi l i t y, nor doe s i t e voke f e e l i ngs of a l i e na t i on I ns t e a d hi s w o r k i s pa r t i c ul a r l y a t t e nt i ve t o pe r c e pt i ons of t he w o r l d: t he bi r ds t ha t pa s s t he w i ndow t he c a t w a l ki ng on t he r oof e t c H i s poe t r y p r oj e c t s be yond hi s w he e l c ha i r a nd i n doi ng s o hi s di s a bi l i t y i s r e ve a l e d a s a l i nge r i ng l i m i t a t i on i n t he f a c e of t he c ont i nua l m ove m e nt t ha t he i s s ur r ounde d by a nd a bs or be d i n. I n c ont r a s t w i t h E i gne r t he m e m oi r s o f J e a n D om i ni que B a uby a nd C hr i s t ophe r N ol a n pr e s e nt f a r m or e e xpl i c i t r e pr e s e nt a t i ons of t he i r di s a bl e d bodi e s B a uby, a f or m e r e di t or of F r e nc h E l l e M ag az i ne ha d a s t r oke t ha t l e f t hi m w i t h l oc ke d i n s yndr om e A l t hough f ul l y c oge nt h e w a s una bl e t o m ove w i t h t he s ol e e xc e pt i on of hi s l e f t e ye l i d. H e w r ot e hi s m e m oi r w i t h t he c ol l a bor a t i on of a n a i de w ho r e a d hi m a n a l pha be t t ha t w a s r e o r de r e d t o c or r e s pond t o t he l e t t e r s m os t c om m onl y us e d i n t he F r e nc h l a ngua ge s o t h a t he c oul d bl i nk i n or de r t o i ndi c a t e t he l e t t e r he w i s he d t o us e T he r e s ul t i ng t e xt i s c om pos e d of s hor t c ha pt e r s of s hor t s e nt e nc e s t ha t de s c r i be hi s di s a bi l i t y, a s w e l l a s m e m or i e s of hi s l i f e be f or e t he s t r oke I n i t he e m pha s i z e s t ha t hi s a bi l i t y t o w r i t e s a ve s hi m f r om

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5 i m pr i s onm e nt i n h i s i m m obi l e body I n r e a di ng hi s w or ds ot he r s c a n j oi n h i m i n hi s body, w hi c h he r e f e r s t o a s a di vi ng be l l H i s a bi l i t y t o s ha r e h i s e xpe r i e nc e of e m bodi m e nt t hr ough l a ngua ge r e s ona t e s w i t h M e r l e a u P ont y s not i on t ha t l a ngua ge c a n i nt r oduc e ne w pe r c e pt i ons o f t he w o r l d, a c t i ng a s a s e ns e or ga n. N ol a n, l i ke E i gne r w a s bor n w i t h c e r e b r a l pa l s y. H e a l s o w a s not a bl e t o c om m uni c a t e ve r ba l l y unt i l he be ga n t o us e a ke yb oa r d. H i s m e m oi r de s c r i be s hi s s t r uggl e s w i t h hi s body a nd hi s de pe nde nc e upon o t he r s A t t he poi nt a t w hi c h he w a s a bl e t o t ype how e ve r he e xpe r i e nc e d a ne w f o und i de nt i t y a s a n a ut ho r O nc e publ i s he d, he w a s a bl e t o e xpr e s s hi s e nga ge m e nt w i t h t he w or l d t o a r e a de r W hi l e he de s c r i be s t hi s e xpe r i e nc e a s be i ng f r e e d f r om hi s unc ont r o l l a bl e body, hi s t e xt r e f l e c t s a bod i l y i nt e r a c t i on w i t h hi s e nvi r o nm e nt a s w e l l a s w i t h t he w r i t i ng pr oc e s s i t s e l f R a t he r t ha n be i ng s e pa r a bl e f r om hi s body, hi s a c c e s s t o l a ngua ge a c t s a s a pr os t he s i s of hi s body t ha t i nt r o duc e s a ne w pr oj e c t i on t ow a r ds t he w or l d. H e i s not di s e m bodi e d, but r e e m bodi e d a s a n a ut hor E xpl or i ng t he w or ks o f t he s e f ou r di s a bl e d a ut hor s l a ngua ge a c t s a s pr os t he s i s t o t he i r bodi e s a f f e c t i ng t he i r e xpe r i e nc e of t he w or l d i n a w a y t ha t i s not t e l e ol ogi c a l a ugm e nt a t i on, but pa r t i c i pa t or y i n a n ongoi ng pr oc e s s of r e e m bodi m e nt M e r l e a u P ont y s l a t e r w o r k i n T he V i s i bl e a nd t he I nvi s i bl e s ugge s t s a n a ppr oa c h t o t he pr e s e nc e of t he body t ha t uni f i e s t h e t e xt w hi l e r e m a i ni ng i m pe r c e pt i bl e

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6 Cha pt e r 1 : T h e P hi l os ophy o f M e r l e a u P on t y A s a s t ude nt of E dm und H us s e r l M a ur i c e M e r l e a u P ont y s phi l os ophi c pr oj e c t t a ke s up t he l a t e H us s e r l s c l a i m of t he c e nt r a l i t y of pe r c e pt i on, e xt e ndi ng i t f ur t he r t o s a y t ha t t he i nt e nt i ona l i t y of c ons c i ous ne s s i s pr i m a r i l y a n e m bodi e d i nt e nt i ona l i t y. M e r l e a u P on t y c r i t i c i z e d t he C a r t e s i a n w a y t o phe nom e nol ogy f or s e ve r i ng t he s ubj e c t f r om t he w or l d i n w hi c h a l l hu m a n be i ngs dw e l l I n P he nom e nol ogy of P e r c e pt i on he w r i t e s E xpe r i e nc e a nt i c i pa t e s a phi l os ophy a nd phi l os ophy i s m e r e l y a n e l uc i da t e d e xpe r i e nc e ( P P 73) T he phi l os ophe r i s i m be dde d i n a w o r l d, a nd f r om t he i r i m be dde dne s s t he i r phi l os ophy i s d r i ve n. T he t a s k of phe nom e nol ogy i s f or M e r l e a u P ont y, t o br i ng t o l i ght t he pr i m or di a l r e l a t i ons hi p be t w e e n body s ubj e c t a s i nc a r na t e c o ns c i ous ne s s a nd w or l d. U s i ng t he c onc e pt ua l f r a m e w or k de ve l ope d by M e r l e a u P ont y w i t h r e ga r ds t o t hi s p r i m or di a l r e l a t i ons hi p, I i nt e nd t o a ddr e s s i s s ue s r a i s e d by t he phys i c a l l y d i s a bl e d w r i t e r U nde r M e r l e a u P ont y s unde r s t a ndi ng of e m bodi m e nt t he pa r t i c ul a r phys i c a l s i t ua t i on of t he a ut hor ( be i t a l i m i t e d or t ot a l i z i ng di s a bi l i t y) w oul d a f f e c t t he i r a c c e s s t o t he w or l d a nd t he i r a c c e s s t o t he w o r l d i n t ur n w oul d be m a de m a ni f e s t i n t he i r w r i t t e n e xpr e s s i on. I de s c r i be t he p r oc e s s of di s a bi l i t y a s a r e e m bodi m e nt w he r e i n t he di a l ogu e be t w e e n body s ubj e c t a nd w or l d i s c ons t a nt l y r e f or m e d a c c or di ng t o t he a c qui s i t i on of ne w ha bi t s a nd pr os t he s e s I f w e c ons i de r l a ngua ge t o be a p r os t he s i s r e e m bodi m e nt ought t o be r e f l e c t e d i n t he w r i t i ng s t yl e of t he di s a bl e d a ut hor r e ve a l i ng a ne c e s s a r y r e l a t i ons hi p be t w e e n t he i r us e o f l a ngua ge a nd s e n s e of e m bodi m e nt I n t hi s

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7 s e ns e t he pr oc e s s of r e e m bodi m e nt be c om e s a m e a ns of r e l a t i ng t o a nd pa r t i c i pa t i ng i n t he w or l d t hr ough l a ngua ge t ha t i s of t he body A s w i l l be c om e m or e a ppa r e nt i n l a t e r c ha pt e r s t ha t l ook c l os e l y a t t he body of l i t e r a t ur e p r oduc e d by f our di s t i nc t di s a bl e d a ut hor s t he e m bodi e d s t a t e of t he a ut ho r i s not i m m e di a t e l y a va i l a bl e i n t he c ont e nt of t he i r w o r k. N a r r a t i ve voi c e i s a l i ngui s t i c c ons t r uc t i on of i de nt i t y, a nd n ot s i m pl y t he s pe a ki ng voi c e o f t he a ut hor A ddi t i ona l l y, s om e a ut hor s a voi d us i ng t he f i r s t pe r s on, di s t a nc i ng t he m s e l ve s f r om a c onf e s s i ona l f or m H ow e ve r e v e n w he r e l a ngua ge l a c ks a n e xpl i c i t s ubj e c t t he e xp r e s s i on of pe r c e pt i on c a n b e a pr i m a r y c onc e r n o f t he w or k. R a t he r t ha n c onf l a t i ng t he a ut hor s e xpe r i e n c e w i t h t he e xpl i c i t c ont e nt of t he i r w r i t i ng w e m us t c ons i de r e a c h a ut hor s us e o f l angu age t he i r i ndi vi dua l s t yl e s i n a t t e m pt i ng t o l oc a t e t he i r bodi e s M e r l e a u P ont y s phi l os ophy o f t he body s ubj e c t i s not i m m e di a t e l y a va i l a bl e i n s om e di s a bl e d a ut hor s de s c r i pt i ons of t he body T w o a ut hor s w hos e w or k I w i l l be l oo ki ng a t de s c r i be t he i r b ody a s be i ng a s e pa r a bl e e nt i t y, a nd t he i r w r i t i ng a s e m a n a t i ng f r om t he i r m i nds A not he r m a ke s no e xpl i c i t r e f e r e nc e t o hi s be i ng di s a bl e d i n hi s w or k. I n or de r t o a r r i ve a t a n unde r s t a ndi ng of how M e r l e a u P ont y s s e ns e of e m bodi m e nt i s r e ve a l e d i n t he t e xt s of t he s e a ut hor s w e m us t e s t a bl i s h a c onne c t i on be t w e e n t he body a nd l a ngua ge M e r l e a u P ont y a i ds us i n t hi s pr o j e c t a s one of hi s p r i m a r y c onc e r ns i s t he c om pl e x r e l a t i ons hi p be t w e e n t he body a nd s i g n. T h i s r e l a t i ons hi p be c om e s pa r t i c ul a r l y c e nt r a l a s hi s phi l os ophy of e m bodi m e nt e vol ve s i n hi s l a t e r w or k H ow e ve r be f or e a ppr oa c hi ng t he r ol e o f l a ngua ge w e m us t a ddr e s s hi s c onc e pt of t he body s ubj e c t a nd i t s a bi l i t y t o ove r c om e m i nd body dua l i s m

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8 M e r l e a u P ont y s P he nom e nol ogy of P e r c e pt i on po s i t s t he e xi s t e nc e of a pr e r e f l e c t i ve r e a l m w hi c h he de s c r i be s a s t he a l w a ys pr e s uppos e d a nd a c t ua l l y pr e s e nt ba c kgr ound of ou r e xpe r i e nc e O u r e xpe r i e nc e i s c ons t i t ut e d i n t he s e ns or y di a l ogue be t w e e n body s ubj e c t a nd w or l d: S e ns e e xpe r i e nc e i s t ha t vi t a l c om m uni c a t i on w i t h t he w or l d w hi c h m a ke s i t p r e s e nt a s a f a m i l i a r s e t t i ng f or our l i f e ( P P 61 ) H ow e ve r w ha t e xi s t s be hi nd one s r e l a t i ons t o t he w or l d a s pr i m or di a l ba c kgr ound c a n ne ve r be e xpl i c i t l y r e a l i z e d nor e xt r i c a t e d f r om our e xpe r i e nc e M e r l e a u P ont y c l a i m s t ha t w e m us t r e t ur n t o t he pr e r e f l e c t i ve r e a l m i n or de r t o di s c l os e t he na t ur e of pe r c e pt i on a s a s e ns uous di a l ogue of body a nd w or l d. P e r c e pt ua l e xpe r i e nc e i n ot he r w o r ds m us t be r e d i s c ove r e d i n t he phe nom e na l f i e l d of body s ubj e c t s I m por t a nt l y T hi s phe nom e na l f i e l d i s not a n i nne r w or l d t he phe nom e non i s no t a s t a t e of c ons c i ous ne s s or a m e nt a l f a c t a nd t he e xpe r i e nc e o f phe nom e na i s not a n a c t of i nt r os pe c t i on ( P P 66 ) T hi s br i ngs t o l i ght a c r i t i que of C a r t e s i a n m i nd bo dy dua l i s m e s s e nt i a l t o ge t t i ng a t M e r l e a u P ont y s body s ubj e c t A r e t u r n t o phe n om e na r e vi ve s i nt e r s ubj e c t i ve l i ve d e xpe r i e nc e T he body m us t not be c ons i de r e d t o be a n obj e c t a m ong ot he r obj e c t s i n t he w or l d U nl i ke w ha t obj e c t i vi s t or s c i e nt i f i c t hought c l a i m s t he body i s not a m e r e m e c ha ni s m t o be di s s e c t e d. R a t he r t he body i s t ha t w hi c h a l l ow s ot he r bodi e s a nd obj e c t s t o be m a de pr e s e nt t o us a nd i s not a ba r r i e r t o c ons c i ous ne s s T o unde r m i ne obj e c t i vi s t a ppr oa c he s M e r l e a u P o nt y c r i t i que s m e c ha ni s t i c phys i ol ogy, f or e xa m pl e by l ooki ng s pe c i f i c a l l y a t c a s e s of

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9 pha nt om l i m b ( w he r e i n t he pa t i e nt e xpe r i e nc e s s e ns a t i on i n a l i m b t ha t i s no l onge r t he r e ) a nd a nos ognos i a ( t he f a i l ur e o f t he pa t i e nt t o r e c ogni z e t he e xi s t e nc e of a di s e a s e or di s a bi l i t y) a nd how a n obj e c t i vi s t m ode l a c c ount s f or t he m B ot h of t he s e m e di c a l c ondi t i ons c a l l i nt o que s t i on t he r e l a t i ons hi p of t he body a nd t he m i nd: t he s t udi e s of phys i ol ogy a nd ps yc hol ogy. A c c or di ng t o M e r l e a u P ont y ne i t he r m e c ha ni s t i c phys i ol ogy nor c l a s s i c a l ps yc h ol ogy c a n c r e a t e a c om pl e t e a c c ount of t he s e di s or de r s E a c h a ppr oa c h s t a nds a t oppos i t e pol e s i n i n t e r pr e t i ng pe r c e pt i on: phys i ol ogy obj e c t i f i e s t he body, ps yc hol ogy di s e m bodi e s t he s ubj e c t M e r l e a u P ont y i ns i s t s by c ont r a s t t ha t w e l ook a t how t he t w o a pp r oa c he s ge a r i nt o one a not he r M e c ha ni s t i c phys i ol ogy i nt e r pr e t s hum a n be ha vi or i nt o a pa t t e r n o f s t i m ul us r e s pons e a s pa r t of a n obj e c t i vi s t c a us a l s ys t e m w he r e i n di f f e r e nt pa r t s of t he body a r e r e l a t e d t o e a c h ot he r i n a pur e l y e xt e r n a l m a nne r H ow e ve r t he i na bi l i t y t o de pe nd on a s pe c i f i c r e s pons e t o a ny gi ve n s t i m ul i r e qui r e s a de s c r i pt i on of pe r c e pt i on a s a n at t une m e nt o f t he b ody t o a ny g i ve n s t i m ul us r e nde r i ng pe r c e pt i on a ps yc ho phys i c a l pr oc e s s Y e t t hi s br oa de r a ppr oa c h s t i l l doe s not a c know l e dge pr oc e s s e s oc c ur r i ng w i t hi n t he body, a s t he body i s i ns t e a d m e r e l y r e a c t i ng t o or r e pr e s e nt i ng ps yc hol ogi c a l pr oc e s s e s M e a nw hi l e a pur e l y ps yc hol ogi c a l i nt e r pr e t a t i on of pe r c e pt i on w he r e i n t he e xpe r i e nc e of phe nom e na i s de t e r m i ne d b y t he pr e s e nc e ( or a bs e nc e ) of m e nt a l c ont e nt s a l s o c a nnot pr ovi de a n a de qua t e e xpl a na t i on f or c a s e s of pha nt om l i m b s yndr om e or a nos ognos i c s due t o i t s l a c k of a n a c c ount f or m ot or m e m or y w i t hi n t he body. M e r l e a u P on t y c onc l ude s t ha t a hybr i d t he or y w oul d be a bl e t o of f e r a n a c c ount of s e ns a t i on a nd

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10 pe r c e pt i on t ha t l i e s be t w e e n t he ps yc hol ogi c a l a nd t he phys i ol ogi c a l T he t he or y t ha t he pr opos e s i s t ha t o f a t e l e ol ogi c a l pr oj e c t i on t ow a r ds t he w or l d w he r e i n t he body s ubj e c t i s uni f i e d i n i t s i nt e nt i ona l i n vol ve m e nt i n a s i t ua t i on. H ow e ve r t e l e ol ogi c a l pr oj e c t i on l a t e r pr ove s t o be a p r obl e m a t i c a l t e r na t i ve t o t he ps yc hol ogi c a l a nd phys i ol ogi c a l pe r s pe c t i ve s a s i t r e l i e s on a c ons c i ous ne s s t ha t or de r s t he body R e t ur ni ng t o t he c a s e s of pha nt om l i m b a nd a no s o gnos i a M e r l e a u P ont y c i t e s t he m a s e xa m pl e s of a b r e a kdow n i n t he di a l o gue be t w e e n body s ubj e c t a nd w or l d. T hi s br e a kdow n r e ve a l s our e m bodi e d be i ng i n t he w or l d w hi c h i s pr e s e nt e d a s bodi l y i nt e nt i ona l i t y. B odi l y be i ng i n t he w or l d i s r e f e r r e d t o a s a n i m pul s e a nd a n a t t e nt i on t o l i f e R e f l e xe s a nd pe r c e pt i ons a r e e xa m pl e s of t hi s bodi l y i nt e nt i ona l i t y a s w e l l a s e vi de nc e of t h e pr e obj e c t i ve vi e w w hi c h he c l a i m s i s our s i t ua t e d be i ng i n t he w or l d : T he r e f l e x, i n s o f a r a s i t ope ns i t s e l f t o t he m e a ni ng of a s i t ua t i on, a nd pe r c e pt i on; i n s o f a r a s i t doe s not f i r s t of a l l pos i t a n obj e c t of know l e dge a nd i s a n i nt e nt i on o f our w hol e be i ng ( P P 92 ) I t i s w i t h s uc h a pr e obj e c t i ve vi e w w hi c h e m pha s i z e s t he u ni f i c a t i on of t he body i n i t s i nt e nt i o na l pr oj e c t i on i nt o a s i t ua t i on, t ha t t he r e c a n be a m e e t i ng of t he ps yc hol ogi c a l a nd t he phys i ol ogi c a l M e r l e a u P ont y e xpa nds upon t he r ol e of i nt e nt i ona l i t y i n t he s e c t i on of P he nom e nol ogy of P e r c e pt i on t i t l e d T he S pa t i a l i t y of O ne s O w n B ody a nd M ot i l i t y, w he r e he poi nt s t o t he dyna m i c s pa t i a l i t y of t he body a s t he ve r y c ondi t i on of t he di s c l os ur e of t he w or l d a s m e a ni n gf ul T he p r i m a r y c ondi t i on of a l l l i vi ng pe r c e pt i on i s s pa t i a l e xi s t e nc e w hi c h i s n ot s pa t i a l i t y i n r e ga r d t o

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11 pos i t i on, but s pa t i a l i t y i n r e ga r d t o s i t ua t i on, t he s i t ua t i on of t he body i n f a c e o f i t s t a s ks ( P P 115 ) I n t hi s s e ns e t he body c a n be unde r s t ood a s i nc a r na t e i nt e nt i ona l i t y, na vi ga t i ng a nd s t r uc t u r i ng t he di a l o gue be t w e e n body s ubj e c t a nd w or l d. A r e l e va nt e xa m pl e o f s uc h a n i nc a r na t e i nt e nt i ona l i t y l i e s i n t he poe t i c pr oj e c t of L a r r y E i gne r a w r i t e r w i t h c e r e br a l pa l s y. D e s pi t e t he f a c t t ha t E i gne r l i ve d a l l of hi s l i f e i n a w he e l c ha i r a nd m os t o f i t o n t he por c h of h i s pa r e nt s hom e hi s poe t r y r e f l e c t s a gr e a t de gr e e o f m ove m e nt t hr ough s pa c e M e r l e a u P ont y s m ode l o f s pa t i a l i t y a nd i nt e nt i ona l i t y c a n d e s c r i be E i gne r s s t a t i ona r y c onf i ne m e nt a s pr ovi di ng a s i t ua t i on i n t he f a c e of a m obi l e w or l d not l i m i t e d t o a s t a t i c e xi s t e nc e H i s poe t r y c ont a i ns he a vi l y popul a t e d f i e l ds of c om pos i t i on of t e n f ol l ow i ng bi r ds l e a ve s a nd m us i c i n t he w i n d. R a t he r t ha n m ovi ng a m ongs t obj e c t s i n t he w or l d he i s a bl e t o r e c ogni z e t he i r m ove m e nt i n hi s s i t t i ng s t i l l H i s poe t i c l a ngua ge r a r e l y r e f l e c t s a s t a t e of pa r a l ys i s but i ns t e a d i ndi c a t e s a de s i r e t o e xpe r i e nc e a nd pa r t i c i pa t e i n hi s s ur r oundi ng e nvi r onm e nt A t t hi s poi nt M e r l e a u P ont y s c onc e pt i on of t e l e ol ogi c a l m ot i l i t y r e m a i ns t ha t of a c ons c i ous ne s s t ha t or de r s t he body a c c or d i ng t o i nt e nt i on. I n t h i s w a y, c ons c i ous ne s s a l l ow s t he body t o pr oj e c t i t s e l f i nt o a c t i ons : C ons c i ous ne s s i s i n t he f i r s t pl a c e no t a m a t t e r o f I t hi nk t ha t but o f I c a n M ove m e nt i s not t hought a bout m ove m e nt a nd bod i l y s pa c e i s not s pa c e t hought of or r e pr e s e nt e d ( P P 159) A s M e r l e a u P ont y hi m s e l f l a t e r poi nt s o ut t hi s a c c ount s t i l l r e m a i ns t oo de pe nde nt on c ons c i ous ne s s e ve n w hi l e i t s t r a i ns t o s how i t s e m bodi e d na t ur e A s a n I c a n, c ons c i ous ne s s i s di r e c t i ng t h e body a s a t e l e ol ogi c a l i nt e nt i ona l i t y. A ddi t i ona l l y, w hi l e e na bl i ng hi s de s i r e t o f us e t he ps yc hol ogi c a l

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12 a nd t he phys i ol ogi c a l M e r l e a u P on t y s uni f i c a t i on of t he body s ubj e c t w i t h t he w or l d a s a t e l e ol ogi c a l m o t i l i t y r e ve a l s a pot e nt i a l l y pr obl e m a t i c ge ne r a l i z a t i on of t he body. I n he r e s s a y F e m i ni s m a nd P he nom e nol ogy, S ha nnon S u l l i va n o f f e r s a f e m i ni s t c r i t i que o f p r oj e c t i ve i nt e nt i ona l i t y de t e c t i ng a pr obl e m a t i c nor m a l i z a t i on of t he body i n i t s i m pl i c a t i ons S he c l a i m s t ha t M e r l e a u P ont y s pr oj e c t i ve bodi l y i n t e nt i ona l i t y, or t e l e ol ogi c a l m ot i l i t y, c ons t r ue s be i ng i n t he w or l d a s t he p r oj e c t i on of one s ow n c onc e r ns ont o ot he r s w i t hi n t he w or l d: P r oj e c t i ve i nt e nt i ona l i t y i s t oo uni d i r e c t i ona l not a l l ow i ng s uf f i c i e nt l y f or a t w o w a y, c o c ons t i t ut i ve ba c k a nd f or t h be t w e e n m y w or l d a nd m e ( S ul l i va n 184) S ul l i va n c ha r ge s t ha t M e r l e a u P ont y s m ode l of e m bodi m e nt doe s not l e a ve r oom f o r t he a ppr e c i a t i on of di f f e r e nc e gi ve n i t s p ot e nt i a l t o s e r ve a s a ba s i s f o r s ol i ps i s m T hi s c onc e r n i s ba s e d on t he da nge r t ha t i n i nt e r pr e t i ng t he ge s t ur e s of ot he r s a c ons c i ous ne s s pr oj e c t s i t s ow n i nt e nt i ons w hi c h m a y di f f e r f r om w ha t t he ot he r c ons c i ous ne s s i nt e nde d. C ount e r i ng t he s e c l a i m s i n R e f l e c t i ons on F e m i ni s t M e r l e a u P ont y S ke pt i c i s m S i l vi a S t ol l e r r e s ponds t o S u l l i va n by dr a w i ng a t t e nt i on t o t he di a l ogi c pr oc e s s of bodi l y e xi s t e nc e be i ng one of di f f e r e nt i a t i on S t ol l e r a r gue s t ha t M e r l e a u P ont y doe s not i gnor e di f f e r e nc e s but r a t he r pr ovi de s us w i t h t he i de a o f di f f e r e nc e a s a pr oc e s s of di f f e r e nt i at i on ( S t ol l e r 175) T hi s c l a i m i s ba s e d on r e o r de r i ng o f ge s t ur e a nd p r oj e c t i on, s uc h t ha t bodi l y i n t e r a c t i ons i n t he w or l d a r e pr e s e nt t o us be f or e w e pr oj e c t our ow n i nt e nt i ons ont o t he m G e s t ur e s ha ve a n e xi s t e nc e t ha t i s i nde pe nde nt of w ha t i s pr oj e c t e d ont o t he m S t o l l e r a l s o poi n t s out t ha t w h i l e S ul l i va n p l a c e s di f f e r e nc e s

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13 a t t he be gi nni ng o f i nt e r s ubj e c t i ve e xi s t e nc e t a ki ng t he i r c ondi t i ons f or gr a nt e d, M e r l e a u P ont y doe s not s i m pl y p r e s uppos e ( t he e xi s t e nc e of ) di f f e r e nc e s R a t he r he f oc us e s on di f f e r e nc e s a s a pr oc e s s of di f f e r e nt i at i on ; w ha t i nt e r e s t s hi m i s t he c om i ng i nt o be i ng of di f f e r e nc e ( S t ol l e r 178 ) T he pr oc e s s of di f f e r e nt i a t i on t o w hi c h S t ol l e r r e f e r s m us t be unde r s t ood bot h a s a n i nt e r s ubj e c t i ve pr oc e s s e m a na t i ng f r om one s r e l a t i ons hi p t o ot he r s a s w e l l a s a r e f l e xi ve p r oc e s s dr a w n f r om one s r e l a t i ons hi p t o one s e l f P a r t o f t he l a t t e r pr oc e s s i s t he a c qui s i t i on, a s w e l l a s l os s of ha bi t s i n t he pr o j e c t i on of bodi l y i nt e nt i ona l i t y M e r l e a u P ont y c l a i m s t ha t t h e i ns i s t e nc e of i nt e nt i ona l i t y dr i ve s t he de ve l opm e nt of t he body: T he body i s t he ve hi c l e of be i ng i n t he w or l d, a nd ha vi ng a body i s f or a l i vi ng c r e a t ur e t o be i nt e r vol ve d i n a de f i ni t e e nvi r onm e nt t o i de nt i f y one s e l f w i t h c e r t a i n p r oj e c t s a nd be c ont i nua l l y c om m i t t e d t o t he m ( P P 94 ) A s a m a ni f e s t a t i on o f bodi l y i nt e nt i ona l i t y, t he e v ol ut i on of ha bi t s pl a ys a c e nt r a l r ol e i n t he r e l a t i ons hi p be t w e e n body s ubj e c t a nd w or l d: H a bi t e xpr e s s e s our pow e r of di l a t i ng our be i ng i n t he w or l d o r c ha ngi ng our e xi s t e nc e by a ppr op r i a t i ng f r e s h i ns t r um e nt s ( P P 166) M e r l e a u P ont y de s c r i be s t he a c qui s i t i on of ha bi t a s a p r oc e s s i n w hi c h t he body unde r s t a nds c l a r i f yi ng t ha t T o unde r s t a nd i s t o e xpe r i e nc e t he ha r m ony be t w e e n w ha t w e a i m a t a nd w ha t i s gi ve n be t w e e n t he i nt e nt i on a nd t he pe r f or m a nc e a nd t he body i s our a nc hor a ge i n a w or l d ( P P 167 ) T hi s he l ps t o e xpl a i n t he i nc or por a t i on of a n i ns t r um e nt i nt o t he bodi l y s pa c e f or e xa m pl e w he n t he t ype w r i t e r be c om e s a pr os t he t i c l i m b a nd m e di a t or of a w o r l d. M e r l e a u P ont y de s c r i be s t he a ppr opr i a t i on of f r e s h i ns t r um e nt s a s ha vi ng t he

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14 a bi l i t y t o a ugm e nt a nd a l t e r t he body s pr o j e c t i on i nt o t he w or l d, j us t a s t he t a ki ng up of ha bi t s c ha nge s one s r e l a t i on t o t he w or l d. T he r e l a t i ons hi p be t w e e n ha bi t a nd t he i nc o r por a t i on o f p r os t he s e s c a n be e l uc i da t e d i n t he f ol l ow i ng a na l ogy: A pe r s on w ho be gi ns t o go o n j ogs w i l l e ve nt ua l l y e xpe r i e nc e a n i nc r e a s e i n e ndur a nc e w he n c l i m bi ng a f l i ght of s t a i r s ; s i m i l a r l y, a pe r s on w ho l i m ps m ove s a t a qui c ke r r a t e onc e t he y ge t us e d t o us i ng a c a ne C hr i s t ophe r N ol a n, a n a ut hor bo r n w i t h c e r e br a l pa l s y, pr e s e nt s a n e xa m pl e of s uc h a n i nc or po r a t i on o f t he pr os t he s i s i nt o a s e ns e of e m bodi m e nt H i s c e r e br a l pa l s y pr e ve nt e d hi m f r o m us i ng hi s f i nge r s on a t ype w r i t e r a nd s o he us e d a uni c or n s t i c k a t t a c he d t o hi s f or e he a d. I n a d di t i on t o t he pr os t he s i s of t he u ni c or n s t i c k, hi s a t t a c hm e nt t o t he i ns t r um e nt o f t he t ype w r i t e r i s doubl y m e di a t e d by he l p f r om hi s m ot he r i n c ont r o l l i ng t h e di r e c t i ons of hi s he a d s m ove m e nt s F or J e a n D om i ni que B a uby, a n a ut ho r s uf f e r i ng f r om l oc ke d i n s yndr om e hi s i ns t r um e nt f or w r i t i ng w a s not a t yp e w r i t e r bu t t he c ont r ol o f hi s l e f t e ye l i d i n r e s pons e t o he a r i ng a m odi f i e d a l pha be t r e a d a l oud t o hi m B a uby s i s a uni que c a s e of r e e m bodi m e nt w he r e i n w ha t w a s pr e vi ous l y a m e a ns of r e gul a t i ng vi s i on be c a m e a w r i t i ng i m pl e m e nt B ot h a ut hor s r e pr e s e nt e xa m pl e s of t he i nc l us i on o f p r os t he s e s t he r e pl a c e m e nt of n on f unc t i oni ng a r e a s of t he body w i t h pr e vi ous l y ( non) bodi l y i ns t r um e nt s a c t i ng a s a r e e m bodi m e nt t ha t r e c ons t r uc t s bodi l y i nt e nt i ona l i t y R a t he r t ha n f a i l i ng t o w r i t e t he d i s a bl e d a ut hor c a n de ve l op ne w w r i t i ng ha bi t s w i t h ne w t ool s I n t hi s s e ns e ha ndi c a ppe d be i ng i n t he w or l d doe s not i m pl y s i m pl y a l i m i t a t i on o r a n a br i dge d e xpe r i e nc e of e m bodi m e nt I ns t e a d, i t i s a di f f e r e nt i a t e d, or r e e m bodi e d e xpe r i e nc e

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15 I nt e gr a l t o t he di a l ogue be t w e e n body s ubj e c t a nd w or l d f o r M e r l e a u P ont y i s t he r ol e o f l a ngua ge a s bot h a n e xp r e s s i on of t he w or l d a nd a m e a ns of e s t a bl i s hi ng i nt e r s ubj e c t i ve e xpe r i e nc e s A ddi t i ona l l y, gi ve n our di s c us s i on of f our a ut hor s w ho s t r uggl e w i t h or a r e i nc a pa bl e of c ohe r e nt s pe e c h, t he di s t i nc t i on be t w e e n t he r ol e of s poke n l a ngua ge a n d t ha t of w r i t t e n l a ngua ge i n t he e s t a bl i s hm e nt of a body s ubj e c t m us t be e xpl or e d. I n or de r t o f i nd a r e l a t i ons hi p be t w e e n body a nd s i gn, w r i t t e n l a ngua ge m us t be i n di a l ogue w i t h our e xpe r i e nc e of t he w or l d. C ount e r i ng t he c om m on not i on t ha t s pe e c h i s t he t r a ns l a t i on of t he r e a l m of pur e t hought or i nne r l i f e of t he s ubj e c t M e r l e a u P ont y s t r e s s e s a n i nt e r na l e s s e nt i a l r e l a t i ons hi p be t w e e n t hought a nd body. I n t he c ha pt e r t i t l e d T he B ody a s E xpr e s s i on, a nd S pe e c h, he c l a i m s t ha t w i t h t hi s s ubj e c t w e ha ve t he oppor t uni t y t o l e a ve be hi nd us onc e a nd f or a l l t h e t r a di t i ona l s ubj e c t obj e c t di c hot om y ( P P 202 ) W or ds c ont r a r y t o w ha t m e c ha ni s t i c a nd i nt e l l e c t ua l i s t ps yc hol ogi e s w oul d t e a c h us ha ve s i gni f i c a nc e a m e a ni ng i n t he m s e l ve s T he w or d i s not t he e xt e r na l s i gn of a n i nt e r na l r e c ogni t i on, a s i f i t w e r e a n e m pt y c ont a i ne r A s M e r l e a u P ont y c l a i m s A t hough t l i m i t e d t o e xi s t i ng f or i t s e l f i nde pe nde nt l y of t he c ons t r a i nt s of s pe e c h a nd c o m m uni c a t i on, w oul d no s oone r a ppe a r t ha n i t w oul d s i nk i nt o t he unc ons c i ous w h i c h m e a ns t ha t i t w oul d not e xi s t e ve n t o i t s e l f ( P P 206) I t f ol l ow s t ha t t he r e c ogni t i on of obj e c t s doe s not t a ke pl a c e w i t hout t he na m i ng o f obj e c t s P a r t i c i pa t i ng i n a l i ngui s t i c c om m uni t y t he i ndi vi dua l e xi s t s i n a c ohe r e nt w or l d of obj e c t s l a ngua ge a c t i ng a s a ve hi c l e f or m e a ni ng: T hus s pe e c h, i n t he s pe a ke r doe s no t t r a ns l a t e r e a dy m a de t hough t

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16 but a c c om pl i s he s i t ( P P 207) C onve r s i ng w i t h a not he r i s t he n a c r e a t i on o f m e a ni ngs e a c h i de a be i ng be s t ow e d upon t he i nt e r l oc ut or l i ngui s t i c a l l y. C om m uni c a t i on w i t h ot he r s m a ke s a va i l a bl e t he p os s i bi l i t y of l i ke m i nde dne s s or t hi nki ng a c c or di ng t o ot he r s T hi s di a l ogue pr oduc e s t hought i n e a c h i ndi vi dua l s pe a ke r by m e a ns of a ge s t ur a l m e a ni ng w hi c h M e r l e a u P ont y c l a i m s i s i m m a ne nt i n s pe e c h. C onc e pt ua l de pt h m a y be dr a w n f r om ge s t ur a l m e a ni ng. A s he put s i t T he s poke n w or d i s a ge s t ur e a nd i t s m e a ni ng, a w or l d ( P P 214) A s t he ba s i s of a c ons t r uc t i on of a n i nt e r s ubj e c t i ve r e a l i t y, t he w or d pr om pt s t hought a s a m a t e r i a l l y p r oduc e d s ound or m a r ki ng i m pr i nt s upon a body t ha t t a ke s i t up m a t e r i a l l y. I n he r a f or e m e nt i one d c r i t i que S ul l i va n c l a i m s t ha t ge s t ur a l m e a ni ng, a s i t i s s ha r e d w i t h ot he r s p r e s uppos e s a uni ve r s a l a c c e s s t o s pe e c h t ha t i s c ohe r e nt or r e a di l y a ppr e he ns i bl e : M e r l e a u P ont y a s s um e s t oo e a s i l y a nd qui c kl y t ha t t he s i m i l a r i t i e s f ound i n hu m a n bodi l y s t r uc t ur e s a l l ow s one t o unde r s t a nd t he m e a ni ng of a not he r s i nt e nt i o ns a s c om m uni c a t e d i n t he i r bodi l y ge s t ur e s ( S ul l i va n, 185) S he a r gue s t ha t M e r l e a u P ont y s de s c r i pt i on a s s um e s a c om m ona l i t y of bodi e s i n t he s e bodi l y g e s t ur e s t ha t i s us e d a s a s hor t c ut t o f a c i l i t a t e c om m uni c a t i on w i t h ot he r s ( S ul l i va n, 185) M e r l e a u P ont y s e e m s t o i nvi t e t hi s a c c us a t i on, w r i t i ng t ha t phone t i c ge s t i c ul a t i on m us t us e a n a l pha be t of a l r e a dy a c qui r e d m e a ni ngs t he w or d ge s t ur e m us t be pe r f or m e d i n a c e r t a i n s e t t i ng c om m on t o t he s pe a ke r s j us t a s t he c om pr e he ns i o n of ot he r ge s t ur e s p r e s uppos e s a pe r c e i ve d w or l d c om m on t o a l l i n w hi c h e a c h one de ve l ops a nd s pr e a ds out i t s m e a ni ng ( P P 226)

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17 H ow e ve r a f t e r r e f e r r i ng t o a n a l pha be t o f a l r e a dy a c qui r e d m e a ni ngs he s ugge s t s t he pot e nt i a l f or di f f e r e nt i a t i on a nd de ve l opm e nt i n c i t i ng t he ge s t ur e s a bi l i t y t o s pr e a d out i t s m e a ni ng. T he a bi l i t y t o s pr e a d out a m e a ni ng r e s ona t e s w i t h M e r l e a u P ont y s l a t e r w o r k i n S i gn s w he r e i n he de s c r i be s t he a bi l i t y of l a ngua ge t o i nt r oduc e us t o unf a m i l i a r pe r s pe c t i ve s a s a c onque r i ng l a ngua ge T hi s s t a nds i n oppos i t i on t o S ul l i va n s d e pi c t i on of ge s t ur a l m e a ni ng a s s om e t hi ng t ha t i s f i xe d S ul l i va n ha s m i s unde r s t ood ge s t ur a l m e a ni ng a s ha vi ng a us e of a l e xi c on, w hi l e i ns t e a d M e r l e a u P ont y i s de s c r i bi ng a n or i gi n of m e a ni ng t hr ough t he body C i t i ng M e r l e a u P ont y s i nt e r r oga t i on o f t he c ondi t i ons f or t he pos s i bi l i t y of di f f e r e nc e S t ol l e r s ugge s t s a br oa de r unde r s t a ndi ng of ge s t ur a l m e a ni ng. I n c ont r a s t t o S ul l i va n S t ol l e r s de f e ns e of M e r l e a u P ont y r e ve a l s a n i m po r t a nt a s pe c t of ge s t ur a l m e a ni ng: i t s a bi l i t y t o i nt r oduc e c om pr e he ns i bl e di f f e r e nc e S he a r gue s t ha t r a t he r t ha n be i ng a pr oduc t o f a s i ngl e s ubj e c t s i nt e nt i ona l i t y, m e a ni ng f or M e r l e a u P ont y i s a l w a ys m e ani ng i n s i t uat i on t ha t i s a f i e l d s e e n not a s a s um of obj e c t s but a s a f i e l d i n w hi c h m a n y s ubj e c t s pa r t i c i pa t e ( S t ol l e r 179) F or poe t J or da n S c ot t w hos e s pe e c h i s a f f e c t e d by a s t ut t e r m e a ni ng i s a s t r uggl e t o c om m uni c a t e a s t he w or ds t he m s e l ve s e m e r ge t a ngl e d f r o m hi s m out h. H ow e ve r t hi s doe s not i m pl y a n i na bi l i t y t o p r oduc e ge s t ur a l m e a ni ng f or t he s pe a ke r w ho s uf f e r s f r om a s pe e c h i m pe di m e nt R a t he r t h r ough ge s t ur a l m e a ni ng he i s a bl e t o c om m uni c a t e di f f e r e nc e t o t he non s t ut t e r i ng r e a de r a l l ow i ng t he m t o he a r ne w m e a ni ngs w i t hi n c ode d s pe e c h. A c c or di ng t o S c ot t t he s t ut t e r i s not a n i m pe di m e nt but a poe t i c de vi c e w hi c h he us e s t o ope n up

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18 l a ngua ge r e ve a l i ng i t s ga ps be t w e e n t he m ove m e nt s of t he t ongue a nd t he s ound pr oduc e d. T hus a n i m pe di m e nt c a n i n f or m s t yl e t a ki ng a ge nc y i n t he s e l e c t i on o f l e t t e r w o r d, a nd s e nt e nc e c om bi na t i ons H ow e ve r i t i s i m por t a nt t o ke e p i n m i nd t he di s t i nc t i on be t w e e n s pe e c h a nd poe t i c c ons t r uc t i on i n m e a s ur i ng t he e f f e c t of ge s t ur a l m e a ni ng. T he s t yl e of S c ot t s poe t i c l a ngu a ge i s c om m uni c a t e d t o hi s r e a de r s i n a n a l t oge t he r di f f e r e nt f o r m t ha n hi s s t ut t e r i ng s pe e c h: on pa pe r hi s r e a de r e xpe c t s t he m e a ni ng t o be not i m m e di a t e l y obvi ous a s oppos e d t o t he f l ui di t y o f e ve r yda y s pe e c h. A nd ye t hi s w r i t t e n l a ngua ge i s not di s e m bodi e d hi s poe t r y i s ve r y pur pos e f ul l y a l yr i c poe t r y o f s p e e c h i n w hi c h he a t t e m pt s t o t r a ns c r i be hi s s t ut t e r A ddi t i ona l l y, l a ngua ge i nhe r e nt l y be a r s t he c onve nt i ons of s ound. E ve n i n i t s w r i t t e n f o r m t he r e a de r c a n he a r a bodi l y r hyt hm i n l a ngua ge T he w r i t e r i s a bl e t o c ons t r uc t a nd m a ni pul a t e m e a ni ng i n hi s u s e o f l a ngua ge M e r l e a u P ont y c l a i m s t ha t m e a ni ng a pp e a r s a t t he m e e t i ngs of a nd s pa c e be t w e e n w or ds H e e l uc i da t e s t hi s i de a i n s t a t i ng t ha t L i ke t he w e a ve r t he w r i t e r w or ks on t he w r ong s i de of hi s m a t e r i a l H e ha s t o do onl y w i t h l a ngua ge a nd i t i s t hus t ha t he s udde nl y f i nds hi m s e l f s ur r ou nde d by m e a ni ng ( S i gns 45 ) I t i s t he i nt e r a c t i on o f t he w or ds t he m s e l ve s t he l i f e of t he w or ds t ha t t he w r i t e r m a ni pul a t e s a nd t hr ough w hi c h m e a ni ng e s c a pe s U s i ng t he e xa m pl e of l i s t e ni ng t o a n or a t o r M e r l e a u P ont y w r i t e s : pr ovi de d t ha t i t i s r e a d w i t h e xpr e s s i on, w e ha ve n o t hought m a r gi na l t o t he t e xt i t s e l f f or t he w or ds f ul l y oc c u py our m i nd a nd e xa c t l y f ul f i l l our e xpe c t a t i ons a nd w e f e e l t he ne c e s s i t y of s pe e c h. A l t hough w e a r e una bl e t o p r e di c t i t s c our s e w e a r e

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19 pos s e s s e d by i t T he e nd of t he s pe e c h or t e xt w i l l be t he l i f t i ng of a s pe l l I t i s a t t hi s s t a ge t ha t t hought s on t he s pe e c h or t e xt w i l l be a bl e t o a r i s e ( P P 209) I n a ddi t i on t o t he bodi l y p r e s e nt a t i on of t he t e xt l e ndi ng i t s e l f t o m e a ni ng, t he r e i s t he s ugge s t i on of t one a nd s ound a s s t yl i s t i c e l e m e nt s r e s pons i bl e f or t he c a pt i va t i on of t he l i s t e ne r T hi s pa s s a ge i s l a t e r e vo ke d i n c ont e m por a r y poe t a nd t he or i s t C ha r l e s B e r ns t e i n s not i on of a t e xt s a bs o r pt i ve c a pa c i t y, l e a vi ng t he r e a de r una bl e t o c om e up f or i de a t i ona l a i r B e r n s t e i n s e t s up a bs or pt i on i n c ont r a s t t o a r t i f i c e a s a n a ppa r e nt c ons t r uc t i on, i nd i c a t i ng a bs or pt i on s r e a l i s t i c or f a m i l i a r qua l i t y H i s de s c r i pt i on of a bs or pt i on s ugge s t s a n e f f e c t c om pa r a bl e t o t ha t of g e s t ur a l m e a ni ng, s uc h t ha t M e r l e a u P ont y s a f or e m e nt i one d s t a t e m e nt on di s s e m i na t i on of m e a ni ng f r om ge s t ur e be c om e s : t he [ poe t i c ] i s a ge s t ur e a nd i t s m e a ni ng a w or l d ( P P 214) T he di f f i c ul t y i n r e pl a c i ng M e r l e a u P ont y s bodi l y ge s t ur a l m e a ni ng w i t h B e r ns t e i n s poe t i c a bs or pt i o n i s t ha t B e r ns t e i n doe s not l oc a t e t he or i gi n of a bs or pt i on i n t he body but r a t h e r i n l a ngua ge a s a m e a ns of pe r c e i vi ng t he w or l d D e s pi t e t hi s d i f f e r e nc e B e r n s t e i n s a ppr oa c h t o l a ngua ge ba r e s a s t r ong r e s e m bl a nc e t o t ha t of M e r l e a u P ont y. B ot h M e r l e a u P ont y a nd B e r ns t e i n e m pha s i z e a s i gni f i c a nc e of t he w or d t ha t e xi s t s on i t s ow n. T hi s i ndi c a t e s a n i nde pe nde nc e of l a ngua ge f r om t he non l i ngui s t i c r e ve a l i ng a s pa c e be t w e e n t he s i gni f i e r a nd t he s i gni f i e d, a nd a n i na bi l i t y t o c on f l a t e t he t w o. O nc e g i ve n a va l ue t h a t i s be yond a m e r e t r a ns l a t i on of l i f e o r de a de ni ng of l i f e i n f i xi ng i t w i t h a s i gn, l a ngua ge i s a bl e t o t a ke on a

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20 m or e l i f e l i ke qua l i t y o f i t s ow n M e r l e a u P ont y a r g ue s t ha t t he t e xt i s not a m ut e f or m o f e xpr e s s i on, but t ha t w hi c h a ni m a t e s m e a ni ng: t he pr oc e s s of e xpr e s s i on, w he n i t i s s uc c e s s f ul do e s not m e r e l y l e a ve f or t he r e a de r a nd t he w r i t e r hi m s e l f a ki nd o f r e m i nde r i t br i ngs t he m e a ni ng i n t o e xi s t e nc e a s a t hi ng a t t he ve r y he a r t o f t he t e xt i t br i ngs i t t o l i f e i n a n o r ga ni s m of w or ds e s t a bl i s hi ng i t i n t he w r i t e r or r e a de r a s a ne w s e ns e or ga n, ope ni ng a ne w f i e l d o r a ne w di m e ns i on t o our e xpe r i e nc e ( P P 212) T hi s pa s s a ge i l l um i na t e s t he c a pa c i t y of l a ngua ge t o a c t a s pr os t he s i s t o t he ope n e nde d na t ur e of e xpe r i e nc e a s i t i s a l w a ys be i ng o pe ne d up a nd r e ne w e d, t hr ough t he ge s t i c ul a t i ons of e xpr e s s i on. T he di s t i nc t i on be t w e e n t he pr os t he s i s of l a ngua ge a s i t i s e xe r c i s e d i n t e xt ve r s us s pe e c h i s a n i s s ue t ha t r e qui r e s f u r t he r de ve l opm e nt bot h he r e a nd i n l a t e r c ha pt e r s t ha t d i s c us s t he w or k of a ut hor s w ho c a nnot s pe a k. S pe e c h i s a bodi l y e xp r e s s i on, be i ng a m i x of voc a l c hor ds a r m ha nd, a nd f a c i a l m ove m e nt s W r i t t e n t e xt s e m a na t e f r om a pa ge or a s c r e e n, a nd do not m a ke a s ound unl e s s s poke n. A nd ye t t he t w o a r e not m ut ua l l y e xc l us i ve P oe t s of t he o r a l t r a di t i on ba s e t he i r w or k on t he r e l a t i on s hi p be t w e e n s pe e c h a nd t e xt C ha r l e s O l s on, a poe t f r om t he B l a c k M ount a i n S c hool a nd i nf l ue nc e on B e r ns t e i n, di d not be l i e ve t ha t w r i t t e n t e xt s w e r e u ns poke n. I n hi s e s s a y, P r oj e c t i ve V e r s e O l s on c a l l s f or e a c h l i ne o f t he poe m t o be m e a s ur e d by t he br e a t h of t he poe t a nd t he s t r uc t ur e of t he poe m t o be f ounde d on voi c e a nd t he e xpe r i e nc e of pe r c e pt i ons r a t he r t ha n s ynt a x. I n t hi s m a nne r a s i l e nt p oe m be a r s

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21 t he i m pr i nt of a n e m bodi e d s pe a ke r H ow e ve r poe t r y doe s not i nvi t e i m m e di a t e r e s pons e i n t he s a m e w a y t ha t c onve r s a t i ona l s pe e c h doe s T hi s i s no t t o s a y t ha t poe t r y i s ne c e s s a r i l y i m pe r m e a bl e bu t r a t he r t ha t i t c a n t a ke t he f or m of a m onol ogue i f t he poe t c hoos e s t o c ons t r uc t s uc h a pe r s ona T he i m por t a nc e o f c om m uni c a t i on a s di a l ogi c i s a m a i n f e a t ur e o f M e r l e a u P ont y s t hought on t he r e l a t i ons hi p be t w e e n s pe e c h a nd t he body. S poke n l a ngua ge i s f or t he s pe a ke r t he t a ki ng up o f a pos i t i on i n a w o r l d i m bue d w i t h c ul t ur e T hus phone t i c ge s t i c ul a t i on b r i ngs a bout i nt e r s ubj e c t i ve c oor di na t i on of e xpe r i e nc e F o r t he e xpe r i e nc e s of t hos e a ut hor s i nc a pa bl e of s pe e c h, or a t l e a s t i nc a pa bl e of r e a di l y c om pr e he ns i bl e s pe e c h, t he i r us e o f l a ngua ge m a y be a pr oduc t of t hi s l a c k. I t c a n s e r v e a s a s ubs t i t ut i on ( a l be i t i nc om pl e t e ) f or s pe e c h, e xpr e s s i ng t he i r de s i r e t o p a r t i c i pa t e i n t he w or l d. T h i s doe s not i m pl y t ha t t he a ut ho r w i t hout s pe e c h i s c ont r a r y t o s pe a ke r s t r a ns l a t i ng i nne r t hought f o r t hought i s a l r e a dy l i ngui s t i c T h ough t he i r m obi l i t y i s l i m i t e d t he di s a bl e d a ut hor i s none t he l e s s e nga ge d i n a w o r l d, a nd t hi s r e l a t i on o r di a l ogue be t w e e n body s ubj e c t a nd w or l d m a ni f e s t s i t s e l f i n hi s us e o f l a ngua ge or s t y l e I n or de r t o di s c us s t he s t yl e of t he a ut ho r w e m us t f i r s t a ddr e s s t he i s s ue of r e pr e s e nt a t i on b r ought up by t he a e s t he t i c e nde a vor A s i n pa i nt i ng t he r e i s a l w a ys a t e ns i on, f or us be t w e e n r e pr e s e nt a t i on of l i f e a nd c r e a t i ve e xpr e s s i on. H ow e ve r i n h i s e s s a y i n S i gns I nd i r e c t L a n gua ge a nd t he V oi c e s of S i l e nc e M e r l e a u P ont y c l a i m s t ha t f o r t he a r t i s t t he r e i s no c hoi c e t o be m a de be t w e e n t he w or l d a nd a r t : W he n one goe s f r om t he or de r of e ve nt s t o t he or de r of

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22 e xpr e s s i on, one doe s not c ha nge t he w o r l d ( S i gns 64) I n f a c t a s p e c t s of t he w or l d a r e p r e s e nt e d t o us i n ne w l i ght t hr ough t he a r t w or k. T he y be c om e t r a ns pa r e nt or e ve n l um i nous a nd c a pa bl e of c l a r i f yi ng not onl y t he a s pe c t s of t he w or l d w hi c h r e s e m bl e t he m but o t he r s t oo; ye t t r a n s f or m e d a s t he y m a y be t he y s t i l l do not c e a s e t o e xi s t ( S i gns 64) P e r s pe c t i ve on t he w or l d a s w e e xpe r i e nc e i t i s a l r e a dy t he i nve nt i on of t he w or l d, a nd t he a r t i s t i c pr oc e s s doe s not di f f e r f r om t h i s m ode l A r t p r ovi de s a nove l e xpe r i e nc e o f t he w o r l d, f or w hy s houl d t he e xpr e s s i on o f t he w o r l d be s ubj e c t e d t o t he p r o s e of t he s e ns e s or of t he c onc e pt ? I t m us t be poe t r y ; t ha t i s i t m us t c om pl e t e l y a w a ke n a nd r e c a l l our s he e r pow e r of e xp r e s s i ng be yond t hi ngs a l r e a dy s a i d or s e e n ( S i gns 52) T he de m a nd t ha t t he e xpr e s s i on of t he w or l d be poe t r y s ugge s t s t ha t poe t i c l a ngua ge i s ot he r t ha n m i m e s i s t ha t m e t a pho r doe s not r e f e r ba c k t o t he t hi ng but ope ns a ne w e xpe r i e nc e T hus t he l a ngua ge of t he uni que l y di s a bl e d poe t w oul d not r e f e r s pe c i f i c a l l y t o hi s obj e c t i ve phys i c a l s t a t e bu t a t t e m pt t o e xp r e s s be yond i t M e r l e a u P ont y a r gue s t ha t t he voi c e of t he a ut hor i s not s i m pl y t he t r a ns l a t i on of hi s e xpe r i e nc e t he e xpr e s s i on of a n a c qui r e d voi c e w hi c h i s m or e hi s t ha n t he c r y w hi c h ga ve bi r t h t o hi s s e a r c h f o r e xpr e s s i on ( S i gns 52) T hi s s ugge s t s t ha t poe t i c l a ngua ge i s ot he r t ha n a de s i r e f or e f f i c i e nt c om m uni c a t i on. R a t he r t he voi c e of t he a ut hor i s a c ons t r uc t e d, s t yl i z e d voi c e t ha t us e s l a ngua ge not t o t r a ns l a t e pe r c e pt i ons but t o pr oduc e ne w one s T he di s a bl e d a ut hor s a bi l i t y t o a c c e s s t he i nt e r s ubj e c t i ve e xpe r i e nc e of t he w or l d t h r ough w r i t i ng e na bl e s hi s s t yl i z e d e xpr e s s i on t o be c om e di a l ogi c r a t he r t ha n s ol i ps i s t i c A pr oduc t of a nd pa r t i c i pa nt i n a l i ngui s t i c w or l d t he

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23 w r i t e r e na bl e s ot he r s t o a c c e s s a phys i c a l l y di s a bl e d pe r s pe c t i ve of t he w or l d hi s e xpr e s s i on ha vi ng be e n r e nde r e d s i gni f i c a t i on t hr o ugh t he r e c e pt i on o f t he ot he r A s M e r l e a u P ont y de s c r i be s i t l i t e r a t ur e i s a c onque r i ng l a ngua ge w hi c h i nt r oduc e s us t o unf a m i l i a r pe r s pe c t i ve s i ns t e a d of c onf i r m i ng us i n our ow n ( S i gns 77 ) I n t hi s c om m uni c a t i on t he pe r s ona l ha ndpr i nt of t he a ut hor i s bot h m a i nt a i ne d a nd i nf i l t r a t e d, hi s voi c e i s s i m ul t a ne ou s l y di s t i nc t a nd a nonym ous : di s t i nc t be c a us e i t i s a pa r t i c ul a r c ons t r uc t i on of l a ngua ge a nonym ous be c a us e i t i s c ons t r uc t e d w i t hi n a l i ngui s t i c s ys t e m a l r e a dy w or n i n w i t h m e a ni ng. M e r l e a u P ont y l i ke ns t he i n f l ue nc e of s t yl e i n t he e xpr e s s i on of pe r c e pt i on t o bod i l y a w a r e ne s s : A s a n a r t i s t m a ke s hi s s t yl e r a di a t e i n t o t he ve r y f i be r s o f t he m a t e r i a l he i s w or ki ng on I m ove m y body w i t hout e ve n kn ow i ng w hi c h m us c l e s a nd ne r ve pa t hs i nt e r ve ne no r w he r e I m us t l ook f or t h e i ns t r um e nt s of t ha t a c t i on ( S i gns 66 ) T he r e l a t i ons hi p of r e e m bodi m e nt a n d t he s e l f c ons c i ous c ons t r uc t i on of s t yl e i s m a de r e a di l y a va i l a bl e i n t h i s a na l ogy. B ot h a r e a m e a ns of pe r c e i vi ng t he w or l d t ha t i s bot h pa r t i c ul a r t o t h e i ndi vi dua l a nd ge ne r a l t o t he phe nom e na l body, o r l a ngua ge t ha t w e a r e s ur r oun de d by. A s t he a ut hor m a t ur e s a nd f i nds ne w l i ngui s t i c de vi c e s he unde r goe s a m e t a m o r phos i s a nd t he s e s t yl i s t i c de ve l opm e nt s be c om e e ndow e d upon t he a ut hor a s or ga ns o r p r os t he s e s S i m i l a r l y, onc e w ha t w a s pr e vi ous l y i ne xpr e s s i bl e f i nds i t s w a y t o s i gni f i c a t i on, f or t he non s pe a ki ng a ut hor a m e t a m o r phos i s ha s oc c ur r e d r e nde r i ng t he di s a bl e d a ut hor r e e m bodi e d

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24 Cha pt e r 2 : T h e P oe t r y of J ord a n S c ot t a nd L a rr y E i gn e r F or M e r l e a u P ont y poe t r y r e ve a l s t he i nne r w or ki ngs of l a ngua ge i n t he pr oduc t i on of m e a ni ng. A s a ddr e s s e d i n t he pr e vi o us c ha pt e r t he w o r d ha s i t s ow n e xi s t e nt i a l s i g ni f i c a nc e I t i s not m e r e l y t he t r a ns l a t i on of pe r c e pt i on; i t i s pe r c e pt i on i n i t s ow n r i ght I n M e r l e a u P ont y s e s s a y, I ndi r e c t L a ngua ge a nd t he V oi c e s of S i l e nc e he w r i t e s : W hy s houl d t he e xpr e s s i on of t he w or l d be s ubj e c t e d t o t he pr os e of t he s e ns e s or of t he c onc e pt ? I t m us t be poe t r y; t ha t i s i t m us t c om pl e t e l y a w a ke n a nd r e c a l l ou r s he e r pow e r of e xpr e s s i ng be yond t hi ngs a l r e a dy s a i d or s e e n ( S i gns 52) H e de s c r i be s l a ngua ge a s a pr ovoc a t i ve m e di um ne c e s s a r i l y not one of t r a ns a c t i on. M e a ni ng a r i s e s a t t he i nt e r s e c t i ons a nd i nt e r va l s be t w e e n w or ds a t t he e dge o f s i gns r a t he r t ha n i n t he s i gns t he m s e l ve s E xpr e s s i on i s ne ve r t he c om pl e t e t r a ns f e r e nc e f r om s ubj e c t i ve t hought t o a n i nt e r s ubj e c t i ve w or l d a s t he i de a of a c om pl e t e e xpr e s s i on i s n ons e ns i c a l a nd a l l l a ngua ge i s i ndi r e c t or a l l us i ve ( S i gns 43 ) W hi l e e l uc i da t i ng t he por ous qua l i t y of a l a ngua ge t ha t i s r i dde n w i t h s i l e nc e M e r l e a u P ont y c om pa r e s t he w or k of t he poe t t o t ha t of t he w e a ve r w hi c h i s t o s a y i t i s a m a ni pul a t i ve s yn t he s i s : w or k[ i ng] on t he w r ong s i de of hi s m a t e r i a l he ha s t o do onl y w i t h l a ngua ge a nd i t i s t hus t ha t he s udde nl y f i nds hi m s e l f s ur r ounde d by m e a ni ng ( S i gns 45 ) T he poe t / w e a ve r i s not gi ve n m e a ni ngf ul pi e c e s of l a ngua ge t ha t a dhe r e t o one a not he r but r a t he r be c a us e he ha s s ol e l y l a ngua ge i n t he a c t of a dhe r e nc e m e a ni ng e m e r ge s F u r t he r m o r e t he poe t i s a bl e t o e nr a pt ur e

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25 ot he r s w i t h hi s l a ngua ge gi vi ng t he m a c c e s s t o a w or l d unf a m i l i a r t o t he m T he poe t i l l um i na t e s t he r e a de r s a s s um e d, e ve r yda y r e a l i t y, f o r t he i r a r t pr e s e nt s a w or l d, r a t he r t ha n be i ng a n e va s i on o f t he r e a l w o r l d. T he poe t s a bi l i t y t o i nve nt w i t h s i gni f i c a t i on i s t he pow e r t o e na bl e t he pe r c e pt i on of a w or l d t ha t w a s pr e vi ous l y uns e e n. I n A r t i f i c e of A bs or pt i on, poe t a nd c r i t i c C ha r l e s B e r ns t e i n s i m i l a r l y c l a i m s t ha t t he r e i s a uni que qua l i t y of poe t i c l a ngu a ge H i s de s c r i pt i ons of poe t r y a ppe a l t o M e r l e a u P ont y s a c c ount o f t he e xi s t e nt i a l m e a ni ng of t he w or d a s w e l l a s t he a bi l i t y of a s t r i ng of w or ds t o ope n ot he r s t o n e w s e ns a t i ons a nd pe r c e pt i ons F or B e r ns t e i n, t he m e a ni ng i s not a bs e nt or de f e r r e d but s e l f e m bodi e d a s t he poe m i n a w a y t ha t i s not t r a ns f e r a bl e t o a not he r c ode or r he t or i c ( A P oe t i c s 18 ) I n t hi s e s s a y, B e r ns t e i n dr a w s out a t e ns i on i n w r i t t e n l a ngu a ge be t w e e n t he c ons t r uc t i on of a r t i f i c e a nd t he e f f e c t of a bs or pt i on. H e de f i ne s a r t i f i c e a s a nt i a bs or pt i on o r t he r e a de r s r e c ogni t i on of t he f or m a l a c t i vi t y of a t e xt w hi l e a bs or pt i on i s t he a bi l i t y of a t e xt t o d i s gui s e i t s l i ngui s t i c c ons t r uc t i on. R e c ogni z i ng a dom i na nc e o f a bs or pt i on i n voi c e ba s e d poe t r y e ve r s i nc e t he R om a nt i c e r a he a r gue s t ha t i t i s a s c hool of poe t r y t ha t c onf l a t e s c ont e nt w i t h m e a ni ng. M or e ge ne r a l l y hi s di s c us s i on of a bs or pt i on i nvol ve s a nor m a t i ve c l a i m a bout t he w or k of t he poe t w hos e a i m i s a bs or pt i on. A bs or pt i ve poe t r y doe s not e nga ge a c r i t i c a l r e l a t i ons hi p t o l a n gua ge w hi l e a nt i a bs or pt i ve poe t r y de m ons t r a t e s B e r ns t e i n s a dvoc a c y f or a r e s i s t a nc e t o a s s um i ng a ut i l i t y o f l a ngua ge

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26 C om pl i c a t i ng t he di s t i nc t i on o f a r t i f i c e a nd a bs or pt i on i s t he i r c om pl i m e nt a r y r e l a t i ons hi p. A r t i f i c e pr ovi de s t he ( hi dde n) de vi c e of a bs or pt i on. W r i t i ng i s a n a c t of a r t i f i c e t ha t uni t e s t he w or d w i t h t he a bs or pt i ve m a t e r i a l w or l d. A s a r e a de r a bs or be d i n a poe t i c w or k, you ke e p m ovi ng t h r ough t he w r i t i ng w i t hout c om i ng up f o r i de a t i ona l a i r : t he i d e a s a r e a l l i ns i de t he p r oc e s s ( A P oe t i c s 60 ) B e r ns t e i n c ont r a s t s a bs or pt i on s f o c us upon t he r he t or i c a l e f f e c t of l a ngua ge w i t h a nt i a bs or pt i on s i nt e r e s t i n i t s r he t or i c i t y. W hi l e a bs o r pt i on s e e ks t o e voke a s i nc e r i t y, o r obj e c t i ve t r ut h t h r oug h l a ngua ge a nt i a bs or pt i ve poe t r y e nc our a ge s t he r e a de r t o f oc us on i t s pa r t i c u l a r f e a t ur e s s uc h a s t he s oni c qua l i t i e s of t he l a ngua ge B e r ns t e i n a dvoc a t e s f or t he s upr e m a c y of a r t i f i c e F or t he pow e r of s ound i t s e l f i s a s gr e a t a s s ound s a bi l i t y t o e voke a n i m a ge ; t hos e poe t r i e s t ha t ha ve t a ppe d i nt o t hi s pow e r ha ve i n r e f us i ng t o l e t w o r ds be c om e t r a ns pa r e nt m a de t he m pot e nt ( A P oe t i c s 47 ) T h i s quot e de m ons t r a t e s t he c onve r ge nc e of a r t i f i c e w i t h a bs or pt i on a de f i ni ng f e a t ur e o f t he r e l a t i ons hi p be t w e e n t he s e t w o f or c e s of l a ngua ge A ddi t i ona l l y, c ha m pi oni ng t he m a ni pul a t i on of s ound a s a poe t i c de vi c e B e r ns t e i n poi nt s t o t he r ol e of s ound i n a pe r c e pt ua l pr oc e s s of r e a di ng a poe m S o und m a r ks t he t e m por a l a s pe c t of t he pr ogr e s s i on f r om a r t i f i c e t o a bs or pt i on: a t f i r s t a m a ni pul a t i on of c onve nt i on t he r hyt hm of t he poe t i c l a ngua ge be c om e s a bs or pt i ve A r t i f i c e e na bl e s a bs or pt i on, a nd not t he ot he r w a y a r ound W ha t i s a nt i a bs or pt i ve i n a poe m l e a ds t o t he poe m s a bs or pt i on, a s t he r e f us a l of a bs or pt i on i s a pr e r e qui s i t e t o unde r s t a ndi ng ( A P oe t i c s 21 ) T hi s pa r t i c ul a r c on c e pt i on of unde r s t a ndi ng i s a r e f l e c t i on of t he c r i t i c a l r e l a t i ons hi p w i t h poe t i c l a ngua ge t ha t B e r ns t e i n f a vor s

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27 A r t i s t i c e xpr e s s i on i s t he ope ni ng o f a w o r l d, f or b ot h M e r l e a u P ont y a nd B e r ns t e i n. B e r ns t e i n e c hoe s F r a nc i s B a c on i n s t a t i ng t ha t r e a l i t y i s s ha pe d by a r t a nd not t he ot he r w a y a r ound. R e s pondi ng t o t he c l a i m of a c r i t i c o f m ode r n poe t r y t ha t t he poe t a t t e m pt s a n a c c ur a t e m i m e s i s of pe r c e pt i on, B e r ns t e i n a s ks w ha t doe s a c c ur a c y ha ve t o do w i t h i t a nyw a y? ( A P oe t i c s 42 ) R a t he r t ha n a c c ur a c y, t he poe t i s c onc e r ne d w i t h s t y l e w hi c h c a n m e a n t he a ba ndonm e nt o f c onve nt i ona l r ul e s of l a ngua ge i n or de r t o pr e s e nt s om e t hi ng t ha t c onf r ont s t he r e a de r w i t h c om pl e xi t y a nd e nga ge s t he m i n a di f f i c ul t r e l a t i ons hi p w i t h l a ngua ge B e r ns t e i n a r gue s a bs or pt i on c a n be a c hi e ve d w i t hout t r a ns pa r e nc y, c a us a l uni t y, or t r a di t i ona l m e t r i c s ; a ba ndoni ng t he s e de vi c e s m a y be ne c e s s a r y t o c a pt ur e a r e a de r s a t t e nt i on ( A P oe t i c s 53) T he r e l a t i ons hi p t ha t B e r ns t e i n e xpl or e s be t w e e n a r t i f i c e a nd a bs or pt i on i nt r oduc e s a di s t i nc t i on be t w e e n t he voi c e of t he a ut hor a nd t he voi c e o f t he t e xt T he v oi c e of t he a ut ho r m us t be unde r s t ood a s a pr oduc t o f r he t o r i c a l de vi c e a nd n ot s i nc e r i t y. H ow e ve r B e r ns t e i n s a r gum e nt i s not t o s a y t ha t t he i de nt i t y of t he a ut ho r i s undi s c ove r a bl e i n a t e xt but r a t he r t ha t s uc h a s e a r c h f o r i de nt i t y i s a n e xa m i na t i on of us e of t e xt of f o r m r a t he r t ha n c ont e nt I n or de r t o e xpl o r e t he l i ngui s t i c e f f e c t of t he body i t i s us e f ul t o t ur n t o poe t s w ho ha ve l i ve d w i t h di s a bi l i t i e s a s t he c r i t i c a l t r e a t m e nt of t he i r di s a bi l i t y pr ovi de s a m or e p r onounc e d a t t e nt i on t o t he body t ha n t ha t of a n a bl e bodi e d w r i t e r T w o s uc h poe t s a r e J or da n S c ot t a nd L a r r y E i gne r S c ot t i s a young C a na di a n poe t w hos e w or k f oc us e s on hi s e xpe r i e n c e of s pe a ki ng w i t h a s t ut t e r E i gne r i s a n A m e r i c a n poe t w ho w r ot e pr ol i f i c a l l y be f or e hi s de a t h i n 1996.

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28 E i gne r w a s bor n w i t h c e r e b r a l pa l s y t ha t i m pa i r e d hi s a bi l i t y t o s pe a k, a nd c onf i ne d hi m t o a w he e l c ha i r I f w e w a nt t o f i nd t he phys i c a l pr e s e nc e of t he poe t i n t he i r w or k w e m us t i nt e r pr e t s t yl e a s a m a ni f e s t a t i on of e m bodi m e nt A n i nqui r y i nt o phys i c a l l y di s a bl e d a ut hor s us e of l a ngua ge i s ne c e s s a r y i n or de r t o r e c ogni z e di s a bl e d bodi e s i n l a ngua ge M i c ha e l D a vi ds on s book, C onc e r t o f or t he L e f t H a nd r e f e r s t o a poe t i c s of d i s a bi l i t y i n a n e s s a y on t he w or k of E i gne r a nd h i s s t r uggl e w i t h c e r e br a l pa l s y. D a vi ds on w r i t e s t ha t a poe t i c s of di s a bi l i t y i s s i gni f i c a nt be c a us e i t t he or i z e s t he w a ys t ha t poe t r y de f a m i l i a r i z e s not onl y l a ngua ge but t he body nor m a l i z e d w i t hi n l a ngua ge ( D a vi ds on, 118) D a v i ds on s ugge s t s t ha t t he body i s a l w a ys pr e s e nt i n l a ngua ge a nd t ha t poe t r y a c t s t o c om pl i c a t e t he r e l a t i ons hi p be t w e e n t he body a nd l a ngua ge H ow e ve r i t i s no t ye t c l e a r how t hi s r e l a t i ons hi p pr e s e nt s i t s e l f i n poe t r y O ne a ppr oa c h t o w ha t i s i nhe r e nt l y bod i l y i n a poe t i c pr oj e c t i s p r e s e nt e d i n a n e s s a y by C ha r l e s O l s on, a poe t of t he B l a c k M ount a i n S c hool w ho w a s i nf l ue nt i a l f o r E i gne r I n P r oj e c t i ve V e r s e O l s on i ns i s t s t ha t t he br e a t h of t he poe t be pr e s e nt i n t he s t r uc t ur e of e ve r y l i ne o f a p oe m P r o j e c t i ve ve r s e i s a n ope n ve r s e w he r e i n a t r a ns f e r of e ne r gy t a ke s pl a c e by w a y of t he poe m be t w e e n t he poe t a nd t he r e a de r T he poe m m us t be a hi gh e ne r gy c ons t r uc t a nd, a t a l l poi nt s a n e ne r gy di s c ha r ge ( O l s on, 240) I n t hi s s e ns e t he f i e l d c om pos i t i on r e qui r e s t ha t t he poe t be s i m ul t a ne ous l y i nvol ve d w i t h t he i r w or k a nd t he i r w o r l d, t he i r br e a t h a nd t he i r e a r O l s on c i t e s t w o i n f l ue nt i a l w r i t e r s i de a s a bout poe t r y de s c r i bi ng a pa r t i c ul a r s t a nc e t ow a r ds r e a l i t y t ha t b r i ngs pr oj e c t i ve ve r s e i nt o

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29 be i ng. T he f i r s t i s R obe r t C r e e l e y s popul a r quot e t ha t f or m i s ne ve r m o r e t ha n a n e xt e ns i on of c ont e nt ( O l s on, 240 ) T hi s i m pl i e s a n i nt e r na l o r ga ni z a t i on i nc i t e d by t he obj e c t s w i t h i n t he poe m T he poe t m us t be r e c e pt i ve i n o r de r t o be r e s pons i ve or a s O l s on w r i t e s t ha t ve r s e w i l l on l y do i n w hi c h a poe t m a na ge s t o r e gi s t e r bot h t he a c qui s i t i ons of hi s e a r and t he pr e s s ur e s of hi s br e a t h ( O l s on, 241) T he s e c ond i s a not i on of E dw a r d D a hl be r g, a n e s s a yi s t a nd nove l i s t w ho t a ught a t B l a c k M ount a i n C ol l e ge t ha t one pe r c e pt i on m us t i m m e di a t e l y a nd di r e c t l y l e a d t o a f u r t he r pe r c e pt i on. S i m i l a r l y a dv oc a t i ng f or f l ui di t y i n a poe t i c s t r uc t ur e O l s on a r gue s t ha t i f t he s t r uc t ur e of t he l i ne c om e s f r om t he br e a t h o f t he poe t f r om t he br e a t hi ng of t he m a n w ho w r i t e s a t t he m om e nt t ha t he w r i t e s a nd t hus i s i t i s he r e t ha t t he da i l y w or k, t he W O R K ge t s i n, f or onl y he t he m a n w ho w r i t e s c a n de c l a r e a t e ve r y m om e nt t he l i ne i t s m e t r i c a nd i t s e ndi ng w he r e i t s br e a t hi ng, s ha l l c om e t o t e r m i na t i on ( O l s on, 242) O l s on s pr oj e c t i ve ve r s e gi ve s poe t r y a l i f e l i ke qua l i t y, w i t h a l i f e l i k e t e m por a l i t y, w he r e i n t he poe t r y i s a bl e t o e xt e nd out s i de of i t s f or m T he br e a t h t ha t s t r uc t ur e s t he poe m c onne c t s t he w or ds on t he pa ge t o t he w o r l d o f t he s pe a ke r w ho pe ns t he m O l s on e ve n r e f e r s t o t he pr oj e c t i ve a c t ( 24 7) w hi c h i s t he a c t of t he a r t i s t i n a l a r ge r f i e l d, a pa r t i c i pa t i on i n t he e xc ha nge of e ne r gy t ha t br i ngs a bout p r oj e c t i ve ve r s e I f p r oj e c t i ve ve r s e i s a p r oduc t of t he poe t s r e s pons i ve ne s s t o hi s e a r s a nd br e a t h, t he poe t r y be a r s a n i m pr i nt of t he body of t he poe t F u r t he r m o r e O l s on w r i t e s t ha t br e a t h a l l ow s al l t he s pe e c h f or c e of l a ngua ge ba c k i n ( s pe e c h i s t he s ol i d of ve r s e i s t he s e c r e t of a poe m s e ne r gy ) ( 244) r e nde r i ng t he pr o j e c t i ve a c t of t he p oe t a n e m bodi e d s pe e c h a c t I t f ol l ow s f r om O l s on s e s s a y t ha t t he

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30 s pe e c h i m pe di m e nt of t he poe t w oul d m a ni f e s t i t s e l f i n t he i r ve r s e T he he s i t a t i on a nd doubl i ng ba c k o f S c ot t a poe t w ho s t ut t e r s w oul d a ppe a r i n hi s poe t r y a s a s t r uc t ur a l e l e m e nt E i gne r how e ve r doe s not e a s i l y f i t i nt o t hi s r e l a t i ons hi p be t w e e n s pe e c h a nd f or m H i s poe t r y doe s not r e s e m bl e t he s l ur r e d a nd s l ow voi c e t ha t c a n be he a r d i n i nt e r v i e w s w i t h t he poe t A s oppos e d t o S c ot t t he m a ni f e s t a t i ons of E i gne r s di s a bi l i t y a r e not w hol l y l oc a t e d i n hi s m out h. W e ne e d a m or e c om p l e t e s ys t e m of how t o r e l a t e e m bodi m e nt t o w r i t i ng s t yl e A di s c us s i on of t he r e l a t i ons hi p be t w e e n w ha t M e r l e a u P ont y c a l l s ge s t ur a l m e a ni ng a nd S c ot t s pr oj e c t w i l l l e a d us t o di f f e r e nt a ppr oa c he s t o e xpl or i ng t he m or e c om pl e x pr e s e nc e of di s a b i l i t y i n E i gne r s w or k. M e r l e a u P ont y de s c r i be s t he ge s t ur a l m e a ni ng of e xpr e s s i on a s be i ng a l w a ys bodi l y. T o l oc a t e ge s t ur a l m e a ni ng i n w r i t t e n w or k, he w r i t e s : t he pr oc e s s of e xpr e s s i on, w he n i t i s s uc c e s s f ul doe s not m e r e l y l e a ve f or t he r e a de r a nd t he w r i t e r hi m s e l f a ki nd of r e m i nde r i t br i ngs t he m e a ni ng i nt o e xi s t e nc e a s a t hi ng a t t he ve r y he a r t of t he t e xt i t br i ngs i t t o l i f e i n a n or ga ni s m of w o r ds e s t a bl i s hi ng i t i n t he w r i t e r or r e a de r a s a ne w s e ns e or ga n, ope ni ng a ne w f i e l d o r a ne w d i m e ns i on t o ou r e xpe r i e nc e ( P he nom e nol ogy of P e r c e pt i on 212) T h i s i m pl i e s t ha t t he r e i s a c onf r on t a t i on be t w e e n t he t e xt a nd t he r e a de r t ha t pr oduc e s ge s t ur a l m e a ni ng a s a bodi l y e xpr e s s i on i n t he r e a de r S i m i l a r l y B e r ns t e i n r e f e r s t o t he f l e s h of w r i t i ng a s a n i nt e r s e c t i on be t w e e n a bs or pt i on a nd i m pe r m e a bi l i t y, a c t i ng a s a m e di um of c om m uni c a t i on be t w e e n poe m a nd r e a de r T hi s c om m uni c a t i on i s a ne c e s s a r y c om pone nt of S c ot t s pr oj e c t I n a m i s s i on

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31 s t a t e m e nt f or a c ol l e c t i on of poe m s e xpl or i ng hi s d i f f i c ul t i e s w i t h s pe e c h, bl e r t he w r i t e s : bl e r t pe r f or m s t he s t ut t e r i n a nd t hr ough l a ngua ge i t s e l f e nha nc i ng t he c ha r a c t e r i s t i c s of t he i ndi vi dua l w ho s t ut t e r s i n hi s or he r s pe e c h by i nvoki ng a s t ut t e r i ng i n t he l anguage s ys t e m a s a w hol e ( D r u nk e n B oat ) bl e r t i s a n e f f or t t o pr oduc e a s t ut t e r i n t he r e a de r c om pa r a bl e t o h i s o w n. I n or de r t o ope n a ne w f i e l d of e xpe r i e nc e a s M e r l e a u P ont y de s c r i be s S c ot t e m pha s i z e s w ha t he c a l l s t he r ol l i ng ga i t of w or ds w i t hi n w or ds t ha t m a ke s up l a ngua ge S c ot t s w or k pr e s e nt s f or t he r e a de r t he r he t or i c i t y of l a ngua ge t ha t B e r ns t e i n c i t e s a s a f e a t ur e of a r t i f i c e I n a s e c t i on o f t he poe m W ha t i s t he ut t e r a nc e ? f r om bl e r t t he r e l a t i ons hi p be t w e e n t he s t ut t e r o f t he poe t a nd t he s t ut t e r pr oduc e d i n t he r e a de r i s c om m uni c a t e d a l m os t a nt a goni s t i c a l l y: M y m out h dr e w t he s w a l l ow s pa ni c C he w pt e r yl a ; t he s pa c e be t w e e n C hom p. a pt e r i um ; gi z z a r d be a t B r oc a B r oc a C hi r pe d e l e c t r ode s i ng. f um i ng ; s i ng. f ur i ous N ow ope n your m out h a nd s pe a k. I nc i s i ve f os s a i n l a bi a l t u r bul e nc e s i ng. f u m i ng ; s i ng. f ur i ous I n ne ur oi m a gi ng f i l opl um e s bl i t z N ow o pe n your m out h a nd s pe a k. S i ng f r um i ous W hat i s t he ut t e r anc e W ha t a poor c r a w l i ng t hi ng you a r e

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32 T hr oughout t hi s pa s s a ge a r e de m a nds t ha t S c ot t m a ke s of t he r e a de r t ha t a r e m e t w i t h r e s i s t a nc e a nd a c c um ul a t i ng f r us t r a t i on: s i ng: f um i ng ; s i ng f ur i ous D i r e c t i ons t o ope n your m out h a nd s pe a k a r e m e t w i t h l a bi a l t ur bul e nc e S c ot t r e pe a t s t he l i ne s i ng. f ur i ous but i n t he r e p e t i t i on t he o r i gi na l l i ne i s m ut a t e d, pr oduc i ng S i ng. f r um i ous T he l a s t l i ne i s a de gr a da t i on of S c ot t s uns uc c e s s f ul s ubj e c t : W ha t a poor c r a w l i ng t hi ng you a r e e voki ng a n i m a ge o f t he pa t he t i c ga i t t ha t t he s t r uggl e w i t h ut t e r a nc e ha s l e f t t he m w i t h. T he di a l ogue w i t h w hi c h S c ot t e nga ge s t he r e a de r a t t i m e s de m a ndi ng, a t t i m e s s ym pa t he t i c br i ngs t o l i ght a n i m po r t a nt que s t i on w i t h r e ga r ds t o t he r ol e t ha t S c ot t s di s a bi l i t y pl a ys i n hi s w o r k. E voki ng a s t ut t e r i n t he ( pr e s um a bl y non s t ut t e r i ng) r e a de r unde r m i ne s t he not i on of di s a bi l i t y. S c ot t doe s not m a ke r e f e r e nc e t o a pr i v at e e xpe r i e nc e of l a ngua ge i n bl e r t but r a t he r m a ke s w ha t i s pe r s ona l t o S c ot t a c c e s s i bl e t o t he r e a de r H i s l i ne s a r e pur pos e f ul l y di f f i c ul t t o r e a d a l oud s m oot hl y, e xe m pl i f i e d i n a s e c t i on o f A e s op S l op : O or t c l oud bl o r t oo m pa h. O os por e bo r e b boy boo m boxe d: O om a nd A a pa ooc yt e oodl e s on ool i t e i n A a s i a ooh a a r dva r k, ooh a a r dw ol f a nd oooh o o ool ogy O om a nd A a pa oom ph a nd oom phe d, ooz e d ool ong a nd ooz e d oodl e s unt i l o ops a da i s i e s S pe a ki ng t he s e l i ne s r e qui r e s t i m e a nd pa t i e nc e w i t hout of f e r i ng t he r e w a r d o f c ohe r e nc e I ns t e a d, t he a w kw a r d a nd i ne f f i c i e nt m e e t i ngs of w or ds t a ke pr e c e de nc e S c ot t pl a c e s e m pha s i s upon a r e l a t i ons hi p w i t h l a n gua ge t ha t i s a l w a ys one of s t r uggl e j uxt a pos e d w i t h t he e a s e of t he f l ue nt s pe a ke r s r e l a t i ons hi p w i t h

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33 l a ngua ge S c ot t s s t ut t e r r e ve a l s t he r ough t e xt ur e of l a ngua ge t ha t l i e s be ne a t h i t s i l l us or y s m oot hne s s I t i s t hr ough a us e of l a ngua ge t ha t r e s i s t s a bs or pt i on, a nd de m a nds c l os e a t t e nt i on, t ha t S c o t t i s a bl e t o pr e s e nt hi s s pe e c h i m pe di m e nt f o r t he uni m pe de d r e a de r A s he w r i t e s i n a de s c r i pt i o n of bl e r t t he un i que s ym pt om s of t he s t ut t e r bot h s oni c a nd phys i c a l a r e ut i l i z e d i n or de r t o r e ve a l l a ngua ge a s a r ol l i ng ga i t of w or ds hi dde n w i t hi n w or ds l e a di ng t o gr a nul a r r hyt hm s a nd t e xt ur e s a l l c onduc t e d by t he m out h s s l i ght e r os i ons ( D r unke n B oa t 2006 E di t i on) S c ot t a l l ude s t o a c ha l l e ngi ng a s pe c t of l a ngua ge t ha t t he s t ut t e r pr ovi de s di r e c t a c c e s s t o, a s t he r e i s no e s c a pi ng a s t r uggl e w i t h l a ngua ge f or t he s pe a ke r w ho s t ut t e r s R e s ona t i ng w i t h B e r ns t e i n s c a l l f or a c r i t i c a l r e l a t i ons hi p w i t h l a ngua ge S c ot t s w o r k s ugge s t s t ha t a poe t i c e nga ge m e nt w i t h l a ngua ge s houl d be di f f i c ul t a nd i n t hi s w a y hi s s t ut t e r f a c i l i t a t e s a uni q ue l y ba r e r e pr e s e nt a t i on of s uc h di f f i c ul t y. S c ot t s s t ut t e r p r ovi de s hi m w i t h i nt e r r upt i ons t ha t s e r ve a s a n oppor t uni t y t o r e f l e c t upon hi s us e of l a ngua ge F ol l ow i ng t h i s pe r i od of r e f l e c t i on i s not a c ont i nua t i on, but a r e c ons t r uc t i on I n a n e s s a y t i t l e d T he T ongue s B r e a k D a nc e : T he or y, P oe t r y a nd t he C r i t i c a l B ody Z a l i G ur e v i t c h de s c r i be s a s i m i l a r pa t t e r n of l i ngui s t i c c ons t r uc t i on a s t ha t of S c ot t s poe t i c p r oc e s s : T he i m pe di m e nt of t he body a nd t he i nt e r r upt i ons i n t he c ou r s e of m e a ni n g pr oduc t i on punc t ua t e a nd hi nde r t he s ym bol i c r e qui r i ng ne w be gi nni ng ne w e f f or t ( 525) I n bl e r t s uc h a n e vol ut i on of m e a ni ng i s pr e s e nt i n t he ph r a s e bl or t j a m r e j oi c e f r om W ha t i s t he ut t e r a nc e ? : T he i r t hi c k t ongue s bl or t t he i r e ye s s que e z e gr i e f a c r ow d

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34 O f huge unhe a r d a ns w e r s j a m a nd r e j oi c e T hi s i s a phr a s e t ha t S c ot t de s c r i be s a s e voki ng t he pr oc e s s t ha t t he s pe a ke r w ho s t ut t e r s unde r goe s i n or de r t o e xp r e s s t he m s e l ve s t he bl or t i s t he i ni t i a l di s t ur ba nc e of s ound by t he t hi c k t ongue t he j a m t he e nt r a pm e nt of t he w or d t he unhe a r d a ns w e r s i n t he ba c k of t he m out h, a nd t he r e j oi c e i s t he f i na l e s c a pe a s ne c e s s a r i l y, s om e t hi ng m us t ge t out t o br e a k t he s i l e nc e B ot h S c ot t a nd G ur e vi t c h s e e k t o r e ve a l t he r e l a t i ons hi p of t he body a nd l a ngua ge t o be a t t he s a m e t i m e i ns e pa r a bl e a nd i r r e c onc i l a bl e L e t l a ngua ge go, a nd i t w i l l r e t u r n t hr ough t he body t o br e a k t he s i l e nc e ( G u r e vi t c h 538) T hi s n ot i on a l s o a ppe a r s i n O l s on s P r oj e c t i ve V e r s e I n a di s c us s i on of t h e s yl l a bl e a s t he ki ng a nd pi n of ve r s i f i c a t i on, w ha t r ul e s a nd hol ds t oge t he r t he l i ne s O l s on e m pha s i z e s t he i m por t a nc e of t he e a r o f t he poe t i n t he pr oduc t i on of t he s yl l a bi c c ons t r uc t i on of t he poe m I n a ny gi ve n i ns t a nc e be c a us e t he r e i s a c hoi c e of w or ds t he c hoi c e i f a m a n i s i n t he r e w i l l be s pont a ne ous l y, t he o be di e nc e of hi s e a r t o t he s yl l a bl e s ( O l s on, 241) W hi l e G ur e vi t c h s ugge s t s t ha t w ha t e m e r ge s i s a s pont ane ous e s c a p e of s ound, O l s on a s s e r t s t ha t t h e e a r i s a n a c t i ve a ge nt s ound be i ng of de c i s i ve ne c e s s i t y. T hu s i f s om e t hi ng m u s t ge t out t he r e i s a c hoi c e t ha t i s m a de a l be i t a s udde n one H ow e ve r t hi s s e e m s t o a ppl y t o a poe t w ho ha s a bs ol ut e s ove r e i gnt y ove r t he i r us e of l a ngua ge F o r S c ot t t he r e i s a t e ns i on be t w e e n t he de s i r e t o de m ons t r a t e hi s ow n s t r ug gl e w i t h s pe e c h a nd t he c ons t r uc t i on of t hi s de m ons t r a t i on C ont r a s t i ng w i t h hi s poe t r y, w hi c h i s or c he s t r a t e d, i s hi s i nt e nt i on t o s i m ul a t e a l a c k of c ont r ol H e i s t hus e xe r c i s i ng c ont r ol i n or de r t o r e pr e s e nt a l a c k of c ont r ol

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35 S c ot t c l a i m s t ha t t he r e s pons i bi l i t y of t he poe t i s t o be a c ut e l y s e ns i t i ve t o t he s ound of s yl l a bl e s H ow e ve r i f he d i d not s t ut t e r how m i ght s uc h a n obs e s s i on w i t h t he e m bodi m e nt of t he s yl l a bl e r e gi s t e r i t s e l f i f a t a l l ? I t i s S c ot t s s t ut t e r t ha t pr ov i de s hi m w i t h t he u ni que r e l a t i ons h i p w i t h l a ngua ge t ha t gui de s bl e r t A nd ye t s uc h a r e l a t i ons hi p i s not e nt i r e l y u ni que t o t he poe t w ho s t ut t e r s a s c a n be m a de a ppa r e nt by t he f a c t t ha t O l s on s po ke w i t hout a n i m pe di m e nt a nd r e a c he d s i m i l a r c onc l us i ons ( O l s on be i ng one o f m a ny e xa m pl e s of t hi s a ppr oa c h t o poe t r y) I f S c ot t s di s a bi l i t y i s w ha t l e a ds hi m t o t hi s s ha r e d e xpe r i e nc e of a l a ngua ge a s a r e s i s t a nt m e di um t ha t m us t be l i s t e n e d t o, a nd not j us t s poke n, t he r e m us t be s om e t hi ng t ha t s e pa r a t e s hi s w or k f r om t h a t of t he poe t w i t hout a n i m pe di m e nt H i s di s a bi l i t y m a ni f e s t s i t s e l f i n t he s t r uggl e t ha t S c ot t a t t e m pt s t o e voke i n t he e xpe r i e nc e o f t he r e a de r by t r a ns c r i bi ng hi s s t ut t e r O l s on a dvoc a t e s f or t he br e a t h o f t he poe t bu t not t he a ggr a va t e d s p i t H e w r i t e s of t e r m i na t i on i n t he ve r s e but not o f m ut a t e d r e pe t i t i ons f ol l ow e d b y s ur r e nde r W hi l e O l s on e nc our a ge s t he poe t t o ge t on w i t h i t ke e p m ovi n g, ke e p i n s pe e d, t he ne r ve s t he w hol e bus i ne s s ke e p i t m ovi ng a s f a s t a s you c a n ( 240 ) S c ot t e va de s t he pus h f or e ne r gy di s c ha r ge l i nge r i ng i n poi nt s of i nt e r r upt i on. S c ot t i s r e e m bodi e d by h i s t r e a c he r ous t r a ve r s i ng o f pos s i bl e s yl l a bi c pa i r i ngs i n hi s poe t r y. T hi s r e e m bodi m e nt m us t be c ons i de r e d a s a de f a m i l i a r i z a t i on a m a ki ng s t r a nge of hi s r e l a t i ons hi p w i t h l a ngua ge t ha t i s e x pe r i e nc e d t hr ough t he body. A n a t t e m pt t o m a p a di s c us s i on of L a r r y E i gne r s w or k t o t ha t of S c ot t s i s c om pl i c a t e d by t ha t f a c t t ha t E i gne r s s pe e c h w a s not i m pe de d by a s t ut t e r but by a f a r m o r e s e ve r e phys i c a l di s a bi l i t y. E i gn e r w a s n e ve r a bl e t o s pe a k c ohe r e nt l y

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36 due t o hi s c e r e br a l pa l s y, a nd p r i or t o a ge 18, he w a s not t hought t o ha ve be e n c a pa bl e of l i ngui s t i c c om m uni c a t i on G i ve n t he O l s oni a n m ode l t he s pe e c h f or c e of l a ngua ge i s w e a ke ne d by t he b r e a t h of t h e poe t w hos e s pe e c h i s s l ow a nd s l ur r e d, a t be s t I f s pe e c h i s t he s ol i d o f ve r s e t he s e c r e t o f a poe m s e ne r gy, t hi s m ode l c a nnot a c c ount f o r t he e ne r gy ge ne r a t e d by t he non s pe a ki ng poe t A nd ye t E i gne r s poe t r y doe s not f a l l f l a t pe r ha ps c a l l i ng f or a m or e c om pl e x unde r s t a ndi ng o f O l s on s s pe e c h f or c e I n hi s c ol l e c t i on F r om t he S us t a i ni ng A i r t he poe m s o t he w o r ds go up gi ve s a phys i c a l i t y t o w or ds a s t he y t r a ve l t h r ough t he a i r j us t a s bi r ds a nd pl a ne s do: s o t he w or ds go up i nt o t hi n a i r pa r l our t he s pe a ki ng r oom bi r ds pa s s t he w i ndow a pl a ne l e ngt he ns t hr ough f og or c l oud be nds a w a y t he c ur ve s t oge t he r t he phone t he ha l l w a y a l l m y l i f e I n t hi s poe m E i gne r doe s not e xpr e s s s ur r e nde r t o l a ngua ge de s pi t e hi s be i ng una bl e t o s pe a k i t R a t he r t ha n f oc us i ng on i t s br e a t hy qua l i t y, E i gne r t r e a t s l a ngua ge a s l a nds c a pe E c hoi ng t hi s t r e a t m e nt O l s on w r i t e s t ha t

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37 be c a us e now a poe m ha s by s pe e c h, s ol i di t y e ve r yt hi ng i n i t c a n now be t r e a t e d a s s ol i ds ob j e c t s t hi ngs ; a nd t hou gh i ns i s t i ng upon t he a bs ol ut e di f f e r e nc e o f t he r e a l i t y o f ve r s e f r om t ha t ot he r di s pe r s e d a nd di s t r i but e d t hi ng, ye t e a c h o f t he s e e l e m e nt s of a poe m c a n be a l l ow e d t o ha ve t he pl a y of t he i r s e pa r a t e e ne r gi e s a nd c a n be a l l ow e d, onc e t he poe m i s w e l l c om pos e d, t o ke e p a s t hos e ot he r obj e c t s do, t he i r pr ope r c onf us i ons ( 24 4) I n s o t he w or ds go up, de s pi t e E i gne r s l a c k of s pe e c h, t he r e i s a n e xc ha nge of e ne r gi e s w i t hi n t he poe m r e l a t i ons hi ps dr a w n be t w e e n obj e c t s a nd m ove m e nt a m ongs t t he m T he r e i s a n a ni m a t e d i nt e r a c t i on be t w e e n w or ds a nd t he s pa c e s t he y i nha bi t a nd d r i f t t hr ough a s w e l l a s be t w e e n t he s ubj e c t a nd t he ot he r obj e c t s t ha t c ons t i t ut e t he poe m s f i e l d o f c om pos i t i on. T h us w e m us t r e c ons i de r O l s on s de pi c t i on of t he ne c e s s a r y r e l a t i on be t w e e n s pe e c h a nd poe t r y i n o r de r t o f ul l y r e a l i z e t he s ol i di t y of E i gne r s w or k E i gne r ha d di f f i c ul t y w i t h s pe a ki ng but not w i t h he a r i ng w hi c h i s j us t a s e s s e nt i a l t o pr oj e c t i ve ve r s e a s br e a t h, a c c or di ng t o O l s on. M a ny a s pe c t s of E i gne r s poe t i c pr oj e c t c a n be a l i gne d w i t h O l s on s f o r e xa m pl e a n a dhe r e nc e t o D a hl be r g s doc t r i ne t ha t one pe r c e pt i on ne c e s s a r i l y l e a ds t o a f ur t he r pe r c e pt i on R a t he r t ha n di s m i s s t he pr e s e nc e of s poke n l a ngua ge w i t hi n E i gne r s w or k gi ve n hi s pa r t i c ul a r l y s t r a i ne d ( i n s om e r e s pe c t s e s t r a nge d) r e l a t i ons hi p t o s pe e c h, i t r e qui r e s a m or e c om pl e x r e a di ng t ha n di d S c ot t s I n or de r t o a ppl y our di s c us s i on of S c ot t t o r e a di ngs of E i gne r a n e xpl or a t i on of t he m e s s ha r e d be t w e e n t he t w o s e r v e s a s a poi nt of de pa r t ur e E i gne r w r o t e a num be r of poe m s on t he s ubj e c t of s poke n l a ngua ge I n a ddi t i on t o

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38 s o t he w or ds go up I ha ve f e l t a s i f t he y ve s a i d r e f l e c t s a n e s t r a nge m e nt f r om s pe e c h: I ha ve f e l t a s i f t he y ve s a i d t he r e i s not hi n g t o s a y t he r e i s not hi ng t o s pe a k of but t he w or ds a r e w or ds W he n you s pe a k t ha t i s a s ound w ha t ha ve you done w he n you ha ve s poke n of not hi ng or s om e t hi ng I w i l l r e m e m be r A f t e r t r y i ng m y a ni m a l noi s e i br e a k out w i t h a m a n s c r y T he l ow e r c a s e I i n t he l a s t l i ne c onnot e s a be l i t t l i ng r e j e c t i on f r om t he w or l d of t he s poke n w or d, r e pr e s e nt e d by t he t he y/ you c h a r a c t e r A s i m i l a r s e pa r a t i on f r om t he t he y of t he s pe a ki ng w or l d i s pr e s e nt i n S c ot t s l i ne O f m y m out h a nd m e O f ot he r pe opl e s f l ue n t m out hs a nd m e O f f l ue nc y a nd m e O f m e a nd m y m out h. O f m e a nd ot he r pe opl e s f l ue nt m out hs O f m e a nd f l ue nc y ( b l e r t ) A ddi t i ona l l y, t he pa i r i ng a ni m a l noi s e / m a n s c r y r e c a l l s S c ot t s r e f r a i n o f bl o r t j a m r e j oi c e R e f e r e nc i ng a n i ne vi t a bl e r e l e a s e of s ound i n t he f a c e of i m pe di m e nt E i gne r s poe t r y e voke s a s t r uggl e w i t h e xpr e s s i on c om pa r a bl e t o t ha t

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39 of S c ot t T he l i ne s t he r e i s no t hi ng t o s a y/ t he r e i s not hi ng t o s pe a k of / bu t t he w or ds a r e w or ds r e s ona t e w i t h M e r l e a u P on t y s c l a i m t ha t t he r e i s n o pu r e t hought pr i o r t o s pe e c h due t o t he e xi s t e nt i a l s i gni f i c a nc e of w or ds f or s pe e c h, i n t he s pe a ke r doe s not t r a ns l a t e r e a dy m a de t hou ght but a c c om pl i s he s i t ( P he nom e nol ogy of P e r c e pt i on 207) E i gne r pos i t s a s i gni f i c a nc e of w or ds s ol e l y due t o t he i r be i ng w o r ds w i t hout be i ng s um m one d by a m e a ni ng w a i t i ng t o be e xpr e s s e d, t he r e i s not hi ng t o s pe a k of M e r l e a u P ont y s i m i l a r l y a r gue s W ha t w e m e an i s not be f o r e us out s i de a l l s pe e c h, a s s h e e r s i gni f i c a t i on. I t i s onl y t he e xc e s s of w ha t w e l i ve ove r w ha t ha s a l r e a dy be e n s a i d ( S i gns 83) S pe e c h doe s not bi nd non l i ngui s t i c m e a ni ng; s pe e c h i s a l w a ys a l r e a dy m e a ni ngf ul I t f ol l ow s t ha t t he r e ne e d not be s om e t hi ng t o s a y or s pe a k of f or t he w or ds a r e w or ds a nd i t i s i n ot he r s t ha t e xp r e s s i on t a ke s on i t s r e l i e f a nd r e a l l y be c om e s s i gni f i c a t i on ( S i gns 52) M e r l e a u P ont y c l a i m s t h a t phone t i c ge s t i c ul a t i on br i ngs a bout a n i nt e r s ubj e c t i ve c oor d i na t i ng of e xpe r i e nc e ; w ha t i s s a i d i s w ha t w e l i ve ove r F o r t hi s r e a s on t he s ubj e c t m us t m a ke a n a t t e m pt t o pa r t i c i pa t e a n a t t e m pt a t e xpr e s s i on, t r yi ng m y a ni m a l noi s e a nd, a f t e r a s t r uggl e br e a k out w i t h a m a n s c r y. B e yond c ont e nt t ha t s ugge s t s hi s s pe e c h i m pa i r m e nt a p l a c e t ha t m a ny c r i t i c s go t o i n or de r t o l oc a t e E i gne r s di s a bl e d bo dy w i t hi n hi s w o r k i s t he a c t ua l di s t r i but i on of hi s w or ds on t he pa ge H i s poe m s a l m os t a l w a ys be gi n a t t he l e f t m a r gi n, a nd do not r e t ur n t o i t I n t he i nt r oduc t i on t o K e nny F r i e s a nt hol ogy o f di s a bl e d a ut hor s S t a r i ng B a c k F r i e s w r i t e s e a c h w or k c h os e n i s t he pr oduc t of a di s a bl e d w r i t e r s e nc ount e r w i t h hi s or he r di s a bi l i t y e xpe r i e nc e r e f l e c t e d i n t he

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40 poe m s of L a r r y E i gne r w hos e di s a bi l i t y p r of oundl y a f f e c t e d t he w o r k s a c t ua l c om pos i t i on ( F r i e s 8) I n M i s s i ng L a r r y, M i c ha e l D a vi ds on a gr e e s t ha t hi s poe m s r e f l e c t t he f a c t t ha t t he s ol e e xt e ns i on of h i s body ove r w hi c h he w a s a bl e t o e xe r c i s e s om e c ont r ol w a s hi s r i ght i nde x f i nge r w hi l e t he r e s t of l i m bs l a y s t i l l i n a w he e l c ha i r : W hi l e i t w oul d be i m pos s i bl e t o ve r i f y t ha t t hi s r i gh t w a r d dr i f t i ng l i ne a t i on w a s a r e s ul t of h i s phys i c a l di f f i c ul t y i n s hi f t i ng t he c a r r i a ge i t w a s c e r t a i nl y t he c a s e t ha t t ypi ng f o r E i gne r r e qui r e d a c ons i de r a bl e e f f o r t ( C onc e r t o f or t he L e f t H a nd 125 ) D a vi ds on c i t e s t he e pi gr a m m a t i c t e r c e t s l ow i s / t he / poe m f r om S m a l l f l i ght l e s s bi r ds i n E i gn e r s c ol l e c t i on a i r t he t r e e s a s a n a dm i s s i on of E i gne r s not t ha t he f i nds t ha t t he poe t r y r e qui r e s pa t i e nc e but t ha t t he t ypi ng i s a phys i c a l s t r a i n T he r e i s f u r t he r e vi de nc e f or t he c l a i m t ha t t he p r a c t i c a l obs t a c l e s of hi s c e r e br a l pa l s y pr ovi de d E i gne r w i t h a uni que a ppr oa c h t o hi s w or k i n hi s i de a s of da nc e E i gne r w or ke d on a c ol l e c t i on o f poe m s f or a pr oj e c t c a l l e d D a nc e w he r e i n he r e ga r ds c hor e og r a phe d m ove m e nt a s a l i m i t a t i on of m obi l i t y t ha t i s pr oduc t i ve of nove l e xpr e s s i on. F o r E i gne r c hor e o gr a phy de f a m i l i a r i z e s nor m a l m ove m e nt F o r t hi s p r oj e c t E i gne r a ppr oa c he s hi s J e w i s h i de nt i t y a s a f a c t or l i m i t i ng hi s m ove m e nt t hr ough hi s t or y. T he poe m s f or D a nc e a r e s t r i ki ng i n t ha t t he y t a ke ha unt i ng na r r a t i ve s o f pr i s one r s o f t h e N a z i s a nd i l l us t r a t e gr a c e f ul r e ndi t i ons of t he i r e nt r a pm e nt T he y m a de hi m s i ng a l ong t he r i ve r t he be a ut i f ul t he be a ut i f ul r i ve r ( a nd r a c e w i t h a nkl e s t i e d)

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41 he w a s a gi l e I n hi s poe m s f o r D a nc e di s a bi l i t y i s e xt e nde d t o r a c e a nd por t r a ye d not a s c ons t r i c t i ng of pos s i bi l i t y, but a s pr ovi di ng a l e ns w i t h w hi c h t o pe r c e i ve r e a l i t y T he c om m e nt he w a s a gi l e s t a nds i n c ont r a s t w i t h t he i m pl i c a t i on t ha t hi s m ove m e nt w a s s t i f l e d by hi s a nkl e s be i ng t i e d t oge t he r T he s t a t e m e nt s e r ve s a s a n a s i de i n w hi c h E i gne r opt s ou t of a ddr e s s i ng ob vi ous s uf f e r i ng, a nd i ns t e a d a t t e nds t o t he m ove m e nt T hi s pr ope ns i t y t o s ur ve y t he l a nds c a pe f or l i f e i s pr e s e nt t hr oughout hi s w o r ks w hi c h ha r dl y s e r ve a s s t a t i c s t i l l l i ve s on pa pe r but r a t he r c i ne m a t i c m om e nt s O ne pe r c e pt i on m us t i m m e di a t e l y a nd di r e c t l y l e a d t o a f ur t he r pe r c e pt i on. E i gne r s poe t r y ne ve r s t a nds s t i l l A ddi t i ona l l y, E i gne r s a ppr oa c h t o da nc e i s r e l e va nt t o B e r ns t e i n s di s c us s i on of poe t i c voi c e E i gne r s us e of l a ngua ge i s c hor e ogr a phe d i n s o f a r a s t he f or m a nd c ont e nt of h i s poe m s a r e c ons t r a i nt s t ha t e na bl e t he i r a bs or pt i on. T he l i n e s t he be a ut i f ul t he be a ut i f u l r i ve r / ( a nd r a c e w i t h a nkl e s t i e d ) / he w a s a gi l e e l i c i t a n e m ot i ona l r e s pons e be c a us e t he y a r e a n une xpe c t e d us e of l a ngua ge i n r e ga r ds t o t he i r s ubj e c t I n r e t ur n i ng t o D a vi ds on s a nd F r i e s s us pi c i ons t ha t t he e f f e c t s of E i gne r s di s a bi l i t y a r e r e s pons i bl e f o r t he r i ght w a r d s hi f t i ng o f hi s poe t r y, i t s e e m s a n ove r s i m pl i f i c a t i on. I n a s e l f a ut h o r e d de s c r i pt i on of hi s s t yl e a nd t e m pe r a m e nt a s a poe t E i gne r w r ot e : I m c a ut i ou s a nd c om e i nt o t hi ngs by unde r s t a t e m e nt D on t l i ke t o be gi n w i t h a bi g B a s i f I w a s a t t he B e gi nni ng o f a l l s pe e c h, or a nyt hi ng ; w hi c h m a y ha ve s om e t hi n g t o do w i t h w hy us ua l l y I ve ha d a n a ve r s i on m or e or l e s s t o goi ng ba c k t o t he l e f t m a r gi n a f t e r be gi nni ng a poe m but ot he r w i s e t ha n i n hi nds i ght I j us t t r i e d t he be s t I c oul d ( L e t t e r t o

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42 I na F or s t e r ) W hi l e ne ga t i ng t he a bove m e nt i one d a s s um pt i on, t hi s pa s s a ge i s a l s o uni que i n t ha t i t a ddr e s s e s t he r e l a t i ons hi p be t w e e n E i gne r t he pe r s on a nd E i gne r t he poe t I t pr ovi de s a n e xpl i c i t c onne c t i on be t w e e n E i gne r s s e ns i bi l i t y a nd hi s poe t r y s f o r m C r e e l e y s doc t r i ne t ha t f or m f ol l ow s s ol e l y f r om c ont e nt i m pl i e s t ha t E i gne r s r i ght w a r d ve e r i ng l i ne s a nd de ns e l y popul a t e d f i e l d of c om pos i t i on a r e a pr oduc t of t he f oc us o f hi s poe t r y. O ne s ubj e c t of E i gne r s f oc us s e e m s t o be a t e ns i on be t w e e n s t a s i s s i t ua t e d a m ongs t a n a bunda nc e of t ur bu l e nc e I n T he M i dni ght B i r ds f o r i ns t a nc e E i gne r c om pa r e s t he s ubj e c t of t he poe m t o a r a di o t ha t i s of f ye t s t i l l r e c e i vi ng s i gna l s f r om out s i de : T he m i dni ght bi r ds r e m i nd m e of da y t hough t he y a r e out i n t he ni ght be yond t he c ur t a i n I c a n t s e e S om e how be dr oom s don t c a r r y t r a di t i on I a nd t he boxe d r a di o i s of f B ut w ha t a m I r e a di ng i nw a r d pe r f o r m a nc e H a s r e l e va nc e A l l ow s m e t o he a r

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43 w hi l e s om e t hi ng s pe a ks A s f or t he be d S t r a i ght e ne d by vi s i bl e ha nds onl y i t i s huge w he n I f e e l dow n i n da r kne s s T hi s poe m be a r s t he i m a ge of s om e one w ho ha s l i m i t e d m obi l i t y a nd ye t i s a bl e t o pr oj e c t be yond t he i r f i ni t e pl a c e i n t he w or l d. W hi l e t he l i ne s be yond t he c ur t a i n I c a n t s e e a nd t he boxe d r a di o/ i s of f i n di c a t e a n a l i e na t i on f r om t he w or l d, t he l i ne s B ut w ha t a m I r e a di ng/ i nw a r d pe r f or m a nc e / H a s r e l e va nc e A l l ow s m e t o he a r / w hi l e s om e t hi ng s pe a ks s ugge s t a uni que a t t e nt i ve ne s s t o s ur r oundi ngs T he poe m ope ns w i t h one i m a ge c on not i ng a not he r T he m i dni ght bi r ds r e m i nd m e of da y, a l r e a dy s ugge s t i ng t he po w e r of e xt e ndi ng a nd pr oj e c t i ng pe r c e pt i ons I nw a r d pe r f or m a nc e a s a m a nne r of pe r c e pt i on e na c t e d by a s ubj e c t w ho pe r c e i ve s f r om a l i m i t e d pe r s pe c t i ve ( be yond t he c u r t a i n I c a n t s e e ) e voke s E i gne r s c onc e pt i on o f da nc e a s c ons t r a i nt R e s ona t i ng w i t h t he l i ne s i nw a r d pe r f or m a nc e / H a s r e l e va nc e D a vi ds on r e f e r s t o t he pe r s pe c t i ve of E i gne r s poe t r y a s be i ng o f a n unus ua l l y s e ns uous a l e r t m i nd ( D a vi ds on, 129) T he c l os i ng l i ne s of t hi s poe m s ugge s t a m o r e f r i g ht e ni ng a s pe c t of a n ope n f i e l d of pe r c e pt i on. W hi l e hi s s ubj e c t i s w a t c he d ove r i n t he c l os e d s pa c e of t he be dr oom t he be d/ S t r a i ght e ne d by vi s i bl e ha nds t he r e r e m a i ns a s e ns e of dr ow ni ng i n t he va s t ne s s be yond i t : onl y i t i s hug e / w he n I f e e l dow n i n da r kne s s I n t he e nd, t he s ubj e c t i s ove r w he l m e d by t he i nf i n i t e e xt e ns i on of t he w or l d out s i de of t he i r w i ndow a nd not s uf f oc a t i ng i n t he i r be dr oom

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44 H a vi ng r e c ons i de r e d t he r ol e of pe r c e pt i on i n poe t i c f or m E i gne r s w o r k c onf or m s m uc h m o r e t o O l s on s r e gul a t i ons f o r pr oj e c t i ve ve r s e t ha n t ha t o f S c ot t W hi l e S c ot t l ooks f or pa us e E i gne r s poe m s a r e t hos e hi gh e ne r gy c ons t r uc t s t ha t O l s on a dvoc a t e s i n t he pr oj e c t i ve a c t F or c e s w i t hi n t he f i e l d c om pos i t i on f or c e E i gne r s a t t e nt i on t o pe r c e pt i ons t o gl i de f l ui dl y t h r ough s pa c e s de s pi t e hi s phys i c a l l y s t a t i ona r y vi e w poi nt ( he s pe nt t he m a j or i t y of hi s l i f e on t he por c h o f hi s pa r e nt s hom e i n S w a m ps c ot t M a s s a c hus e t t s ) I n hi s c ol l e c t i on W i ndow s / W a l l s / Y a r d/ W a ys t he t i t l e of w hi c h i n i t s e l f s ugge s t s a n i nt e r e s t i n m i c r oc os m s of l i f e t h e poe m w ha t di s t a nc e c ont a i ns quot i di a n i m a ge s pi e c e d t oge t he r t o c r e a t e a s e que nc e t ha t i s bot h m unda ne a nd ye t r e pr e s e nt e d by s uc h a t t e nt i ve poe t r y t ha t i t t r a ns c e nds t he e ve r yda y: w ha t di s t a nc e hous e a nd l e a n t o t he c a t w a l ks on t he b i g r oo f t o l ook a he a d? j um ps t he t r e e

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45 t he r e s a r e a t he w hol e bl oc k T he l a s t f i ve l i ne s of t hi s poe m s e e m t o r e c r e a t e t h e m ove m e nt of t he c a t t he poe t m i m i c ki ng t he di r e c t i on of hi s a t t e nt i on s us pe ndi ng e a c h s e c ond of t he j u m p i n e a c h w or d a s t he c a t e s c a pe s gr a vi t y. A ddi t i ona l l y, t hi s poe m a l l ude s t o W i l l i a m C a r l os W i l l i a m s P oe m ( A s t he c a t ) f r om T he W e dge I n t he i nt r oduc t i on t o t hi s c ol l e c t i on, W i l l i a m s w r i t e s W he n a m a n m a ke s a poe m he t a ke s w or ds a s he f i nds t he m i nt e r r e l a t e d a bout hi m a nd c om pos e s t h e m i nt o a n i nt e ns e e xpr e s s i on of hi s pe r c e pt i ons a nd a r dor s t ha t t h e y m a y c ons t i t ut e a r e ve l a t i on i n t he s pe e c h he us e s I t i s n t w ha t he s ay s t ha t c ount s a s a w or k of a r t i t s w ha t he m a ke s w i t h s uc h i nt e ns i t y of pe r c e pt i on t ha t i t l i ve s w i t h a n i nt r i ns i c m ove m e nt of i t s ow n t o ve r i f y i t s a ut he nt i c i t y ( C ol l e c t e d P oe m s 55) A s W i l l i a m s de s c r i be s t he m ove m e nt s of a c a t ( f i r s t t he r i ght / f or e f oo t / c a r e f u l l y/ t he n t he hi nd ) he i s r e pr e s e nt i ng t he c a r e f ul c ons t r uc t i on of a poe m S i m i l a r l y, E i gne r e m ul a t e s t he gr a c e of a c a t s j um p i n t he m ove m e nt of w or ds a c r os s a pa ge a s t he m a t e r i a l i z a t i on of a n i nt e ns e poe t i c pe r c e pt i on. I n t he l e a ps of E i gne r s a t t e nt i on f r om t he a bs t r a c t t o t he m a t e r i a l t he t r a ns c e nde nt t o t he i m m a ne nt t he i s s ue of t e m por a l i t y s e e m s t o be a gu i di ng f or c e W hi l e hi s de a t h i s s om e t hi ng m uc h m or e t a n gi bl e f or E i gne r t ha n i t i s f or

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46 m os t pe opl e due t o hi s c e r e br a l pa l s y, de a t h i n hi s poe t r y i s not a t e r m i na t i on bu t a pa r t of t he c ons t a nt m ove m e nt of l i f e T he s ubj e c t of de a t h a ppe a r s f r e que nt l y i n hi s w or k, pe r ha ps due t o h i s ne a r ne s s t o i t Y e t i t doe s n t s e e m a s t hough E i gne r f e a r s i t but t ha t i t i s a f a m i l i a r obj e c t j us t a s t he c a t t ha t j um ps f r om t he r oo f O bs e r vi ng t he pa s s a ge of t i m e E i gne r doe s n t ge t t r a ppe d i n a nt i c i pa t i on of a t e r m i na t i on, a s e vi de nc e d i n t he t r e a t m e nt of m or t a l i t y i n t he f a s t a nd s l ow f r om W i ndow s / W a l l s / Y a r d/ W a y s : t h e f a s t a n d s l o w t o s e e t he w or l d how ol d c a n you ge t t he he a l i ng t a s t e of s l e e p T he t one o f t hi s poe m r e f l e c t s i t s t i t l e : be i ng ne i t he r a nxi ous nor uni nt e r e s t e d. W hi l e t he s u bj e c t of t hi s poe m a s pi r e s t o s e e t he w or l d, a nd w onde r s how l ong t he y ha ve a m bi t i on doe s not ge t t he be t t e r of r e s t a nd a ba l a nc e i s s t r uc k be t w e e n t he f a s t a nd s l ow da y a nd ni ght T hi s t e m por a l s t r uc t u r e not om i nous but unw a ve r i ng, s e e m s t o gu i de E i gne r s pe r c e pt i ons o f t he w o r l d, a s r e f l e c t e d i n h i s poe t r y. A nd ye t de s pi t e t i m e s r ol l i ng f or w a r d t he r e a r e s e c t i ons of hi s w o r k t ha t s ugge s t a r e s i s t a nc e t o t hi s c ons t a nt f or w a r d m ove m e nt I n I w i l l ha ve a n i m a ge t he r e e xi s t s a s i m ul t a ne ous r e s t l e s s n e s s of t i m e a s t he obj e c t s pa s s t hr ough s pa c e a nd a l ongi ng t o hol d i t s t i l l hi s body una bl e t o ke e p up: I w i l l ha ve a n i m a ge of qui e t a t ha nd

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47 i t f l oa t s a w a y I don t gr a s p by t he be a c h s a nd ugl y e nough ni ght i s c ool s t a r s pa s s ove r a ga i n t he r oc ks t a m e d s e a but no s t r e ngt h t o t r a ve l a l ot of e nds t he pa t hs de s t r oy pl a c e s a s t i m e t he m i r a c ul ous s e r i e s s o you m a y a w a ke t o s t r e e t s i n t he m or n i ng

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48 a nd m a ybe r a i n t he s un a l r e a dy up T he be gi nni ng o f t hi s poe m s e e m s t o f i t a de s c r i pt i on of E i gne r s poe t i c pr oc e s s a s e a c h i m a ge f l oa t s a w a y/ I don t gr a s p, be f o r e f a di ng t o a be a c h s c e ne i n w hi c h E i gne r s e e s t he e r os i on of r oc ks by t he s e a a s a m a t e r i a l i z a t i on of t he c ons t a nt pa s s a g e of t i m e I n t he m i dd l e of t he poe m t he l i ne but no s t r e ngt h t o t r a ve l s t a nds out i n t he f a c e of t he r e s t l e s s ne s s of t he i m a ge s t ha t s ur r ound i t I t pl e a ds w i t h t i m e / t he m i r a c ul ous s e r i e s P e r ha ps i t i s a n a c c e pt a nc e of hi s di s a bi l i t y, a l i m i t e d pl a c e i n t he w or l d, a s t i m e w i l l de s t r oy pl a c e s pr ovi di ng a l ot of e nds A t t he e nd of t he poe m t he r e m a i ni ng l i ne s l e a ve t he r e a de r w i t h a s e ns e of c ont i nua t i on, s o you m a y a w a ke w i t h n o a s s ur a nc e of w ha t t he w o r l d w i l l l ook l i ke f or i t ha s not w a i t e d, t he s un a l r e a d y up. E i gne r s r e a de r i s not m e t w i t h m a ny gui de pos t s i f t he y a r e l ooki ng f or a n a c c ount of l i vi ng w i t h c e r e b r a l pa l s y. I t i s c e r t a i nl y not t he s a m e e xpe r i e nc e a s l ooki ng f or S c ot t s s t ut t e r i n bl e r t ( l ooki ng i s t oo a c t i ve a w or d i n t ha t c a s e ) E i gne r s poe t r y i s di f f i c ul t t o gr a s p, not a s r e f l e c t i v e a s S c ot t s pe r ha ps be c a us e he f e e l s t he O l s oni a n i m pul s e t o m ove a he a d, w hi l e S c ot t e m br a c e s br e a ks W hi l e t he e xpe r i e nc e of a n unhe s i t a t i ng, vi b r a nt w or l d j u xt a pos e d w i t h a pr oxi m i t y t o de a t h m i ght be one pl a c e t o go i n s e a r c h of t he pe r s ona l i n E i gne r s w or k, i t c a n a l s o e a s i l y be s e e n a s a hum a n c ondi t i on, a n i nt e r e s t i n t he m i r a c ul ous s e r i e s A c ons t a nt f e a t ur e of E i gne r s poe t r y i s t h a t i t doe s n ot w a i t f o r t he r e a de r t o c a t c h up, pe r ha ps a r e f l e c t i on o f hi s e xpe r i e nc e o f be i ng di s a bl e d i n a n a bl e bodi e d

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49 w or l d. E ve n i n hi s poe m e xpl a na t i on/ t a nge nt t hi n gs w hi l e ha vi ng t he gui s e of a n e xpl i c a t i on of E i gne r s e xpe r i e nc e of pe r c e pt i o n, i t ha r dl y r e a ds a s a n e xpl a na t i on. O r i f i t doe s w ha t i t e xpl a i ns i s t ha t t he r e i s t oo m uc h t o pa y a t t e nt i on t o i n or de r t o s t op a nd e xpl a i n w ha t goe s t hr ough t he he a d/ w ha t s phe r e of be i ng : e xpl a na t i on t a nge nt t hi ngs w ha t goe s t hr ough t he he a d w ha t s phe r e of be i ng i de a s of a bi r d br i l l i a nt l i ght t i m e c l e a ve d w a t e r I t i s i n E i gne r s i nt e ns e a t t e nt i on t o pe r c e pt i ons a nd how t he y m a t e r i a l i z e t e xt ua l l y on t he pa ge t he i r l i ngui s t i c c ho r e ogr a phy t ha t w e f i nd hi s e m bodi m e nt H i s s t yl e i s not t he m a ni f e s t a t i on of a n i nt e r e s t i n h i s c e r e br a l pa l s y. I ns t e a d, hi s l a ngua ge i s dr i ve n by hi s e xpe r i e nc e s of t he w or l d be yond hi s w he e l c ha i r l ooki ng out w a r d r a t he r t ha n i n H i s di s a bi l i t y r e ve a l s i t s e l f a t poi nt s of c ont r a s t w i t h t he m ove m e nt t ha t s ur r ounds hi m T he p r e s e nc e of hi s body i s i m p l i c i t i n hi s poe t r y

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50 j us t a s M e r l e a u P ont y de s c r i be s t he i na r t i c ul a t e e x pe r i e nc e of m ove m e nt : I m ove m y body w i t hout e ve n know i ng w hi c h m us c l e s a nd ne r ve pa t hs i nt e r ve ne nor w he r e I m us t l ook f o r t he i ns t r um e nt s of t ha t a c t i o n ( S i gns 66) E i gne r s l a ngua ge i s not s e l f c ons c i ous a nd c ons e que nt l y r e ve a l s a n e xpr e s s i on of t he w or l d f r om hi s di s a bl e d pe r s pe c t i ve

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51 Cha pt e r 3 : T h e M e m oi rs of J e a n D o m i ni qu e Ba uby a nd Chr i s t o ph e r N ol a n W he n C hr i s t ophe r N ol a n publ i s he d hi s m e m oi r U nde r t he E ye of t he C l oc k i n I r e l a nd i n 1987 a nd J e a n D om i ni que B a uby publ i s he d hi s T he D i vi ng B e l l a nd t he B ut t e r f l y t e n ye a r s l a t e r i n F r a nc e c r i t i c s w or l dw i de r e s ponde d t o t he t e xt s a s a r c ha e ol ogi s t s m i g ht a n e xc a va t i on. A s bot h a ut hor s w e r e phys i c a l l y di s a bl e d, s uc h t ha t t he i r ha ndi c a p not onl y pr e ve nt e d t he m f r om pa r t i c i pa t i ng i n s poke n c om m uni c a t i on, but a l s o f r om us i ng t he i r h a nds t o pr oduc e w r i t t e n l a ngua ge c om pos i ng a publ i s he d m e m oi r w a s und oubt e d l y a n a dm i r a bl e f e a t f o r bot h a ut hor s M os t s t r i ki ng t o r e a de r s of bot h t e xt s w a s t he unf ol di ng of l a ngua ge f r om w ha t w a s pr e vi ous l y t hought t o be a l a ngua g e l e s s i ndi vi dua l F o r t he a ut hor s t he i r a bi l i t y t o pr oduc e l a ngua ge ga ve t he m a c c e s s t o a w or l d o r di na r i l y s hut of f f r om t he m ut e a nd i m m obi l e B ot h e xpr e s s f e e l i ngs of ha vi ng ove r c om e t he i r phys i c a l di s a bi l i t y t h r ough t he a c t of w r i t i ng f r e e i ng t he i r m i nds f r om t he i r bur de ns om e bodi e s B ot h a l s o us e l a ngua ge t ha t e m br a c e s m i nd body dua l i s m s ugge s t i n g t ha t t he i r bodi e s a r e s e pa r a bl e f r om t he i r e m bodi e d s e l ve s ye t r e a di ngs of bot h t e xt s r e ve a l t he pot e nt i a l f o r a n a l t e r na t i ve i nt e r pr e t a t i on o f t he i r e m bodi m e nt D e s pi t e t he i r ove r a r c hi ng s i m i l a r i t i e s t he t e xt s de vi a t e s i gni f i c a nt l y f r om one a not he r a nd r e s i s t a hom oge ni z i ng r e a di ng. T he i r di ve r ge nc e i s i n pa r t due t o m a j or di f f e r e nc e s i n t he s pe c i f i c di s a bi l i t y e a c h a ut hor e xpe r i e nc e s N ol a n w a s bor n w i t h c e r e b r a l pa l s y a nd ha d l ong c om m uni c a t e d w i t h hi s f r i e nds a nd f a m i l y

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52 m e m be r s by m ovi ng hi s e ye s f or e xa m pl e : l ook i ng up t o i ndi c a t e a f f i r m a t i on. H e w a s t hought t o be i nc a pa bl e of ve r ba l c om m uni c a t i on unt i l de ve l opm e nt s i n c om put e r a nd pha r m a c e ut i c a l t e c hnol ogi e s e na bl e d hi m t o t ype on a ke ypa d a t a ge 11, a t w hi c h poi nt he be ga n t o publ i s h hi s poe t r y B a uby s s t or y, how e ve r i nvol ve s a be f or e a nd a f t e r s t r uc t ur e he w a s t he e di t or i n c hi e f of F r e nc h E l l e M agaz i ne unt i l a ge 43 a t w hi c h poi nt he s uf f e r e d a s t r oke t ha t l e f t hi m i n a r a r e w a ki ng c om a l i ke s t a t e r e f e r r e d t o a s l oc ke d i n s y ndr om e I n hi s pa r a l yz e d c ondi t i on, B a uby w a s onl y a bl e t o m o ve hi s l e f t e y e l i d, r e nde r i ng hi m i nc a pa bl e of c om m uni c a t i ng w i t h f r i e nds a nd f a m i l y w he n t h e y c a m e t o vi s i t hi m a t t he hos pi t a l I n s pi t e of t he i r di f f e r e nc e s B a uby a nd N ol a n bot h e xpe r i e nc e d a n e nor m ous a m ou nt of r e l i e f f r o m t he i r s pe e c h di s a bi l i t y t hr ough w r i t i ng. T he w e i ght of t he i r l a ngua ge l i e s i n t he s i gni f i c a nc e of t he i r a bi l i t y t o c om m uni c a t e w i t h ot he r s B ot h a ut hor s r e l y upon l a ngua ge i n or de r t o s ha r e t he i r e xpe r i e nc e s ; i nvi t i ng ot he r s t o pa r t i c i pa t e i n a w o r l d w i t h t he m ove r c om i ng t he t h r e a t of a l i e na t i on i n a p r i va t e non s i gni f i e d w o r l d. D e s c r i bi ng t he a c t i vi t y of s e ndi ng ne w s l e t t e r s t o hi s f r i e nds a nd f a m i l y f r om hi s ho s pi t a l be d, B a uby w r i t e s A pa r t f r om a n i r r e c ove r a bl e f e w w ho m a i nt a i n a s t ubbor n s i l e nc e e ve r ybody now unde r s t a nds t ha t he c a n j oi n m e i n m y d i vi ng be l l e ve n i f s om e t i m e s t he di vi ng be l l t a ke s m e i nt o une xpl o r e d t e r r i t or y ( 83 ) S i m i l a r l y, i n a pa s s a ge r e f l e c t i ng upon t he c a t ha r t i c e a r l y s t a ge s of hi s t yp i ng pr oc e s s N ol a n d e pi c t s a n i m a ge of hi s m o t he r s t e a dyi ng hi s he a d s o t ha t he c a n c ont r ol hi s m ove m e nt f r om a l pha be t i c ke y t o ke y. N ol a n t a ke s a t h i r d pe r s on p e r s pe c t i ve t hr oughout hi s

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53 m e m oi r c ons t r uc t i ng t he c ha r a c t e r of J os e ph M e e ha n, t o s t a nd i n f o r N ol a n hi m s e l f A s de s c r i be d f r om t he out s i de t a c t i l e c ont a c t be t w e e n t he t w o be c om e s a c onve r s a t i on w he r e i n J os e ph pr ovi de s vi s i ons f or hi s m ot he r s e ye s t hr ough hi s l i ngui s t i c i m a gi ni ngs : F e e bl e J os e ph w a s j us t e l e ve n ye a r s ol d, but be f or e l ong he w oul d be t a ki ng on N o r a s c hool i ng he r t o s e e w ha t he c o ul d s e e i ns t r uc t i ng he r t o s t e a dy hi s he a d f o r hi m w hi l e he t ype d be a ut y f r om w i t h i n, be a ut y of s e c r e t know l e dge s o s e c r e t l y hi dde n a nd s o ne a r l y l os t f o r e ve r ( 56 ) T hi s pa s s a ge w hi l e pr obl e m a t i c a l l y a l l ud i ng t o t he pos s i bi l i t y of pr e l i ngui s t i c know l e dge hi dde n i n hi s m i nd, e voke s M e r l e a u P ont y s l a t e r w o r k on i nt e r c or por e i t y. I n a n e s s a y t i t l e d T he I nt e r t w i n i n g T he C hi a s m f r om hi s pos t hum ous l y publ i s he d book, T he V i s i bl e a nd T h e I nvi s i bl e he de s c r i be s hi s c onc e pt of t he f l e s h, a s a r e ve r s i bi l i t y of s e nt i e nt a nd s e ns i bl e ( one t ha t w e w i l l r e t ur n t o i n m o r e de t a i l ) T a ki ng a m or e r a di c a l a p pr oa c h t o e m bodi m e nt t ha n i n hi s e a r l i e r w or k M e r l e a u P ont y s i nt e r p r e t a t i on of f l e s h f ur t he r c om pl i c a t e s di s t i nc t i ons be t w e e n s e l f a nd ot he r a s w e l l a s t he s ubj e c t i ve e xpe r i e nc e of pe r c e pt i on. O ne pa r t i c ul a r pa s s a ge f r om t he e s s a y, i n w hi c h he de s c r i be s t he l i ngui s t i c s ha r i ng of e xpe r i e nc e a s a t r a ns m i s s i on o f pe r c e pt i on, r e s ona t e s w i t h N ol a n s s c hool i ng hi s m ot he r t o s e e w h a t he c o ul d s e e A s M e r l e a u P ont y de s c r i be s : I l ook a t a l a nds c a pe I s pe a k of i t w i t h s om e one T he n, t hr ough t he c onc or da nt ope r a t i on of hi s body a nd m y ow n, w h a t I s e e pa s s e s

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54 i nt o hi m t hi s i ndi v i dua l gr e e n o f t he m e a dow unde r m y e ye s i nva de s hi s vi s i on w i t hout qui t t i ng m y ow n, I r e c ogni z e i n m y gr e e n hi s gr e e na n a nonym ous vi s i bi l i t y i nha bi t s bot h of us a vi s i on i n ge ne r a l i n v i r t ue o f t ha t pr i m o r di a l p r ope r t y t ha t be l ongs t o t he f l e s h ( V I 142) E c hoi ng M e r l e a u P ont y s i nva s i on o f vi s i on, N o l a n s a s w e l l a s B a uby s de s c r i pt i ons of ve r ba l c om m un i c a t i on i nvol ve a pr obl e m a t i c e xc ha nge of e xpe r i e nc e f r om t he di s a bl e d a ut hor t o t he r e a de r w he r e i n t he m a t e r i a l of t he e xc ha nge r e m a i ns i nt a c t T h i s e xc ha nge w i t h l a ngua ge a s i t s m e a ns of t r a ns por t i m pl i e s a pr e e xi s t i ng w o r l d t ha t B a uby a nd N ol a n e a c h i nha bi t i nde pe nde nt of l i ngui s t i c e xpr e s s i on. B ot h t e xt s s ugge s t t ha t gi vi ng l a ngua ge t o t he l a ng ua ge l e s s di s a bl e d a ut hor une a r t hs a p r e vi ous l y hi dde n, ye t w hol e r e a l i t y. F or t he m e m oi r s pe c i f i c a l l y, t he i m pl i c a t i on i s t ha t w ha t i s w r i t t e n i s a t r a ns l a t i on of e xpe r i e nc e m a ki ng l a ngua ge out o f s om e t hi ng t ha t pr e c e de s l a ngua ge a nd i s ot he r t ha n l a ngua ge I n t he c a s e of B a uby a nd N ol a n t w o a ut hor s w ho e xe r c i s e s o l i t t l e c ont r ol ove r t he i r bod i e s t ha t t he y f e e l t he y a r e i m pr i s one d by t he i r bodi e s s uc h a n a t t i t ude t ow a r ds l a ngua ge e xt e nds f u r t he r t o f i t i nt o a m i nd body s ys t e m w he r e i n t he m i nd i s t he l a ngua ge c e nt e r a nd t he b ody i s s e pa r a bl e T he r ol e o f l a ngua ge i n m i nd body dua l i s m i nvol ve s i s s ue s of i de nt i t y a nd s ubj e c t i vi t y, w he r e i n t he di s e m bodi e d m i nd t a ke s pr e c e de nc e S uc h a n unde r s t a ndi ng of t he l a ngua ge of t he s i l e nt a ut hor i s s ugge s t e d i n r e a di n gs of t he s e t w o t e xt s F or i ns t a nc e a r e vi e w e r o f t he P hi l a de l phi a I nqu i r e r w r ot e upon r e a di ng U nde r t he

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55 E ye of t he C l oc k N ol a n ha s gi ve n a s e c r e t w or dl e s s w or l d a s t r ong, m e l l i f l uous voi c e ( U T E T C ba c k c ove r ) T he de s i r e t o t r a ns c e nd t he i r d i s a bl e d bodi e s t hr ough t he i r us e of l a ngua ge i s e c hoe d i n t he t i t l e s t ha t B a uby a nd N ol a n gi ve t he i r w or k T he D i vi ng B e l l a nd t he B ut t e r f l y a l l ud e s t o B a uby s he a vy a nd i m pr i s oni ng s e ns e of e m bodi m e nt a l l e vi a t e d by t h e une nc um be r e d w e i ght l e s s ne s s of hi s di s e m bodi e d m i nd. T he t i t l e of N ol a n s f i r s t publ i s he d book of poe t r y D a m B ur s t o f D r e a m s s ugge s t s t he r e l e a s e of a n a c c um ul a t i on of l a ngua ge l e s s e xpe r i e nc e s una bl e t o a bl e t o e nt e r t he w or l d unt i l c a r r i e d by w or ds I n or de r t o unde r s t a nd t he r ol e of t he body i n w r i t i ng t ha t de ni e s bodi l y i nt e nt i on, l a ngua ge m us t not be c ons i de r e d a s a ut i l i t y, o r a m e a ns of t r a ns a c t i on be t w e e n one s m i nd a nd t he w or l d A s M e r l e a u P o nt y s a w s uc h r e duc t i ons of l a ngua ge ne gl e c t t he r ol e o f t he body i n pe r c e i vi ng t he w or l d a s w e l l a s t he i nt e gr a l r ol e of l a ngua ge i n our i nt e r a c t i ons w i t h t h e w or l d. W hi l e hi s e a r l i e r w or k i n P he no m e nol ogy o f P e r c e pt i on c l a i m s t ha t t he bo dy i s uni f i e d by a t e l e ol ogi c a l m ot i l i t y a c ons c i ous ne s s t ha t or de r s t he body s uc h t ha t i t c a n pr oj e c t i t s e l f t ow a r ds t he w or l d M e r l e a u P ont y l a t e r de s c r i be s a n i nvi s i bl e a nd o f t e n l i ngui s t i c s t yl e t ha t uni f i e s t h e body S t yl e e nc om pa s s e s t he t e nde nc i e s a nd pa t t e r ns t ha t br i ng t oge t he r d i s pa r a t e e m bodi e d qu a l i t i e s w hi l e be i ng ope n t o i nnova t i ons ( s uc h a s t he i nt r oduc t i on of ne w ha bi t s a nd pr os t he s e s ) T hi s not i on of a s t yl e o f t he bo dy i s e xhi bi t e d i n t he w or ks of d i s a bl e d a ut hor s F o r e xa m pl e i n t he pr e vi ous c ha pt e r w e f ound t ha t t he di s a bl e d body of poe t L a r r y E i gne r ha d a n i m pl i c i t p r e s e nc e i n hi s us e of l a ngua ge

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56 T he c om pl i c a t e d r e l a t i ons hi ps be t w e e n s ubj e c t i vi t y, r e a l i t y a nd l a ngua ge a r e f or m a t i ve i nt e r e s t s of t he L a ngua ge poe t s a gr oup of poe t s a nd t hi nke r s t ha t i nc l ude C ha r l e s B e r ns t e i n, L yn H e j i ni a n, R on S i l l i m a n, a nd N i c k P i om bi no ( a m ong m a ny ot he r s ) L a ngua ge poe t r y ha s r oot s i n t he m ode r ni s t poe t r y o f G e r t r ude S t e i n a nd L oui s Z ukof s ky, bot h of w hom w e r e i nt e r e s t e d i n a f oc us on m e t hod. A ddi t i ona l l y L a ngua ge poe t r y ha s a ve r y phi l os ophi c f ounda t i on, i t s t e ne t s r e s ona t i ng w i t h M e r l e a u P ont y s c ha r a c t e r i z a t i on of l a ngua ge i n P he nom e nol ogy of P e r c e pt i on a nd S i gns M e r l e a u P ont y s i ns i s t e nc e upon t he r e be i ng no s uc h t hi ng a s a r e a l m o f pu r e t hought no t hi nki ng w i t hout l a ngua ge a nd no w or l d w i t hout e xpr e s s i on, c a n e a s i l y be f ound t hr oughout t he w o r k o f t he L a ngua ge poe t s W hi l e uni f or m l y c ha r a c t e r i z e d by a n e m pha s i s pl a c e d upon t he m a t e r i a l i t y of s i gni f i e r s a nd s ke pt i c i s m of a ut he nt i c i t y i n voi c e ba s e d poe t r y L a ngua ge poe t s di f f e r i n t he i r pa r t i c ul a r ba c kgr oun ds a nd pr oj e c t s r a ngi ng i n pol i t i c a l phi l os ophi c a nd a r t i s t i c i nt e r e s t s B e r ns t e i n, one o f t he f or e m os t poe t s a s s oc i a t e d w i t h L a ngua ge poe t r y, ha s w r i t t e n m ul t i pl e e s s a ys a nd poe m s t ha t pr obl e m a t i z e l a ngua ge w i t h r e ga r ds t o s ubj e c t i vi t y t r u t hf ul ne s s c l a r i t y r e a l i t y, a nd e xpe r i e nc e I n hi s e s s a y, S t r a y S t r a w s a nd S t r a w M e n, he l i ke ns t he p r a c t i c e of na t ur a l w r i t i ng t o f i t t i ng w or ds i nt o a pa t t e r n r a t he r t ha n a c t ua l l y l e t t i ng i t ha ppe n ( T he L = A = N = G = U = A = G = E B ook 39) F or B e r ns t e i n, t he poe t s houl d not s t r i ve f o r r e a l i s m but r a t he r f or a c ha l l e ngi ng e nga ge m e nt w i t h l a ngua ge S i m i l a r l y H e j i ni a n c ons i de r s s uc h a c t s of l i t e r a r y por t r a i t ur e t o be a m a t t e r of s e e ki ng a voc a bul a r y f o r i de a s r a t he r t ha n i de a s f or voc a bul a r i e s

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57 ( L B 29 ) T ha t i de a s f or voc a bul a r i e s s houl d be t he i nt e r e s t of t he poe t i s s ugge s t e d i n B e r ns t e i n s c r i t i que of t he l a z y a r t l e s s ne s s of f r e e w r i t i ng : m a ke i t pe r s ona l a nd l e t i t f l ow a r e a voi da nc e s by m ys t i f i c a t i on of s om e ve r y c om pe l l i ng p r obl e m s t ha t s w i r l a r ound t r ut ht e l l i ng, c onf e s s i on, ba d f a i t h f a l s e s e l f a ut he nt i c i t y vi r t ue e t c ( L B 42) T he nor m a t i ve t one t ha t B e r ns t e i n a dopt s i n hi s a d dr e s s of t he w or k of t he poe t i s c l os e l y c onne c t e d w i t h hi s di s c us s i on of a r t i f i c e i n A r t i f i c e a nd A bs or pt i on B e r ns t e i n vi e w s a r t i f i c e a s bot h a ne c e s s a r y a nd de s i r a bl e pr oduc t of poe t r y T he i nt e nt of poe t r y s houl d be c ons t r uc t i on, a nd not t he a t t e m pt t o di s gui s e c ons t r uc t s S i m i l a r l y, a ut om a t i c w r i t i ng, a s w e l l a s s pe e c h, c a nnot pos s i bl y be w i t hout a r t i f i c e O ne s us e of l a ngua ge s houl d no t a nd c a n not be s pont a ne ous C e nt r a l t o B e r ns t e i n s phi l os ophy of l a ngua ge i s hi s c r i t i que of w ha t he r e f e r s t o a s t he c ondu i t t he or y of c om m uni c a t i on ( m e > you) ( L a ngua ge S a m pl e r 78 ) T hi s t he or y m a ke s t he f a ul t y a s s um pt i on t ha t i nd i vi dua l s e xi s t out s i de of l a ngua ge a nd c om m uni c a t e a t e a c h ot he r by m e a ns of s i gni f i e r s I n i t s pl a c e B e r ns t e i n pos i t s t he not i on t ha t l a ngu a ge i s a m e a ns not o f t r a ns l a t i ng t he w or l d, but o f e xpe r i e nc i ng t he w or l d: w e a r e i ni t i a t e d by l a ngua ge i nt o a ( t he ) w or l d a nd w e s e e a nd unde r s t a nd t he w or l d t hr ough t he t e r m s a nd m e a ni ngs t ha t c om e i nt o pl a y i n t hi s a c c ul t ur a t i on ( L B 60) T he w o r l d i s ope ne d up t o us by m e a ns of l a ngua ge w e do no t e nc ount e r i t a s s om e t hi ng w i t hi n t he w or l d. W e a r e e ve r yw he r e s e e i ng t hr ough [ l a ngua ge ] l i m i t e d t o i t but not by i t ( L B 44) B e r ns t e i n s p r i m a c y of l a ngua ge a s pe r c e pt i on r e s e m bl e s M e r l e a u P ont y s

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58 pr i m a c y of bodi l y pe r c e pt i on: f o r B e r ns t e i n, l a ngua ge pr ovi de s our p r i m a r y a c c e s s t o w or l d, w hi l e f or M e r l e a u P on t y, t he bod y i s our poi nt o f a c c e s s H ow e ve r gi ve n t he i r s ha r e d i nt e r e s t i n t he e xi s t e nt i a l s i gni f i c a nc e of l a ngua ge a nd M e r l e a u P ont y s i ns i s t e n c e on t he ge s t ur a l na t ur e of l a ngua ge t he i r m ode l s of pe r c e pt i on a r e i n c l os e pr oxi m i t y I n l oc a t i ng t he w r i t i ng p r oc e s s out s i de of t he m i nd, or a s M e r l e a u P ont y c r i t i c a l l y r e f e r s t o i t t he r e a l m of pur e t hought s uc h t ha t l a ngua ge i s c onne c t e d t o ph ys i c a l i t y r a t h e r t ha n s e pa r a bl e t he m e m oi r s of N ol a n a nd B a uby c a n be f ound t o be bot h l i ngui s t i c a nd bodi l y. B e r ns t e i n s pr i m a c y of l a ngua ge i s r e f l e c t e d i n t he f a c t of N ol a n s upbr i ngi ng i m m e r s e d i n t he w or ds o f hi s f a m i l y m e m be r s t e a c he r s a nd ubi qui t ous I r i s h t e xt s N ot onl y w a s N ol a n s ur r oun de d by t he l a ngua ge o f J a m e s J oyc e a nd W i l l i a m B ut l e r Y e a t s he w a s f r om a yo ung a ge t une d i nt o t he l i m e r i c ks r e c i t a t i ons a nd nonc ha l a nt w o r di ne s s of hi s f a t he r w hom he na m e s M a t t he w M e e ha n i n hi s m e m oi r I n one pa s s a ge N ol a n c om pa r e s hi s obs e r va t i ons of hi s f a t he r s r e l a t i ons hi p t o l a ngua ge w i t h hi s ow n: M a t t he w M e e ha n m e ddl e d i n m e dl e ys of c he e r y b ut br e a t h t a ki ngl y be a ut i f ul t hought W or ds s e e m e d hi s t ool s of t r a de a s he f e r r e t e d f o r m ol l i f i c a t i on i n hi s bonda ge d w o r l d. M a t t he w w oul d be t he ve r y l a s t t o s e ns e t ha t hi s br oa d r a m bl i ng m ur m ur i ngs m i ght be be ne f i c i a l t o hi s c hi l dr e n. H e w a s r e a r e d unde r hi s f a t he r s t ut e l a ge but he ne ve r de t e c t e d t ha t hi s ow n e r udi t e m i nd nut s he l l e d e ve r gr e e n bunt i ng.

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59 J os e ph M e e h a n ha d not ye t b r oke n hi s s i l e nc e but unknow n t o hi s pa r e nt s he e bbe d a nd ne a pe d unde r hi s f a t he r s f l ow N ot ye t a bl e t o w r i t e hi s c r e a t i ve t hought s h e w a xe d a nd w a ne d i n s e c r e t ( 41) I n t he be gi nni ng of t hi s pa s s a ge N ol a n s obs e r va t i on t ha t w or d s s e e m e d hi s t ool s of t r a de r e ve a l s a pr oxi m i t y t o B e r ns t e i n s a dvoc a c y f or l a ngua ge a s a w a y of a c c e s s or be i ng i n t he w or l d a f e r r e t i ng f or m ol l i f i c a t i on, r a t he r t ha n a n e xt e r na l ut i l i t y of l a ngua ge T he s e c ond pa r a gr a ph i n t hi s pa s s a ge a ddr e s s i ng hi s s i l e nc e pr e w r i t i ng, s e e m s a t f i r s t pr obl e m a t i c be c a us e N ol a n r e f e r s t o t hi s pe r i od a s a n unknow n, s e c r e t t i m e of c r e a t i ve p r oduc t i on, a nd s ugge s t s t he pos s i bi l i t y of a pr e ve r ba l e xpe r i e nc e T hi s s t a nds i n oppos i t i on t o B e r ns t e i n s a da m a nc y on t he i ns e pa r a bl e r e l a t i ons hi p be t w e e n l a ngua ge a nd e xpe r i e nc e a nd t he i m pos s i bi l i t y o f t hi ngs p r e e xi s t i ng s i gni f i e r s H ow e ve r N ol a n s e bb[ i ng ] a n d ne a p[ i ng] unde r hi s f a t he r s f l ow a nd h i s w a x[ i ng] a nd w a n[ i ng] a l be i t i n s e c r e t a r e ( s i gni f i c a nt l y ) unde r t he t ut e l a ge o f hi s f a t he r s f l ue nc y w i t h l a ng ua ge a nd c ons t a nt l i t e r a r y r e f e r e nc e s T he s e c r e c y of hi s t hought be f or e he w a s a bl e t o w r i t e m us t not be ha s t i l y a l i gne d w i t h t he non ve r ba l R e s ona t i ng w i t h M e r l e a u P ont y s ne ga t i on o f pur e i nt e l l e c t N ol a n s qu i e t t hought w a s none t he l e s s l i ngui s t i c a s hi s w r i t i ng on hi s e xpe r i e nc e of l i f e p r i or t o hi s be i ng a bl e t o w r i t e i s m a r ke d by hi s be i ng i n t he s ha dow of hi s f a t he r s ve r bos i t y. W he n he w a xe d a nd w a ne d i n s e c r e t i t w a s a pa r t i c i pa t i on i n di s c our s e e ve n i f i t w a s a n i na udi bl e one

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60 R e a de r s of N ol a n f r e que nt l y c om pa r e hi s w r i t i ng t o t ha t of f e l l ow I r i s h a ut hor J a m e s J oyc e C onne c t i ons be t w e e n t he a ut hor s i l l um i na t e t he i r i m be dde dne s s i n l i t e r a r y di s c our s e a s w e l l a s t he i r i ndi vi dua l i n t e r e s t s i n t he r e l a t i ons hi p be t w e e n l a ngua ge a nd t he i r e nvi r onm e nt I n J a m e s J oyc e : a c r i t i c a l i nt r oduc t i on H a r r y L e vi n w r i t e s : W i t h w r i t e r s t he r e i s a l w a ys w ha t H e n r y J a m e s c a l l e d t he f i gur e i n t he c a r pe t a pa t t e r n w ove n i nt o t he w a r p of hi s t or i c ne c e s s i t y by t he w oof of a r t i s t i c i nt e nt i on w h i c h i t i s t he t a s k of c r i t i c i s m t o di s c ove r a nd t o s e t f or t h W i t h J oyc e t hi s f i gur e ha s be e n obs c ur e d by a l uxur i a nt pr o f us i on of l a ngua ge a nd de t a i l but i t i s none t he l e s s i m pl i c i t i n e ve r yt hi ng he w r ot e ( vi i i ) T h i s pa s s a ge s ugge s t s t he ubi qui t y of l i t e r a r y i nf l u e nc e or a s L a ngua ge poe t s w oul d de s c r i be i t pa r t i c i pa t i on i n a pa r t i c ul a r d i s c our s e t ha t a l l a ut hor s a r e s ubj e c t t o a nd pr oduc t s of A m or e f oc us e d c om pa r i s on be t w e e n t he t w o a ut h or s i l l um i na t e s t he i r s ha r e d i nt e r e s t i n t he f l e xi bi l i t y of l a ngua ge J us t a s N ol a n pl a ys t he pa r t of t he w or ds m i t h, r e i nve nt i ng hi s c r a f t by i nve nt i ng w or d s or m i s us i ng ot he r s J oyc e s i m i l a r l y c r e a t e d hi s ow n l a ngua ge A pa r t o f hi s p r oj e c t a s a n a ut hor w a s t o upr oot hi m s e l f f r om c onve nt i ons of t he l i t e r a r y t r a di t i on t ha t s ur r ounde d hi m H e w a nt e d t o br e a k dow n pa r oc hi a l pr e j udi c e s ope n w i ndow s a nd s l a m door s ( L e vi n, 8) H ow e ve r t he r e i s a r e s i dua l i nc l i na t i on i n hi s w or k t o, a s L e vi n pu t s i t dr a w upon r e s e r ve s of v i t a l i t y f r om t he s oi l o f I r e l a nd ( L e vi n, 9) T hi s qua l i f i c a t i on of J oyc e s i nnova t i on l e a ds t o a not he r c onne c t i on be t w e e n J oyc e a nd

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61 N ol a n r e ga r di ng t he l oc a t i on o f t he i r poe t r y: c ont a i ne d i n t he i r s ur r oundi ngs w hi l e r e a c hi ng be yond t he i m m e di a c y of t he i r c i r c um s t a nc e s J oyc e pos i t i ons t he r ol e of t he a ut hor a s t he m e di a t or be t w e e n t he w o r l d o f r e a l i t y a nd t he w or l d of dr e a m s f i xi ng hi s ow n voi c e be t w e e n na t u r a l i s t a nd s ym bol i s t ( L e vi n 18 ) H i s pl a c e i n t he l i t e r a r y t r a di t i on r e f l e c t s t hi s i na bi l i t y t o be pol a r i z e d, f o r a s H a r r y L e vi n a r gue s N o na t ur a l i s t ha s ve nt ur e d a m or e e xha us t i ve a nd uns pa r i ng de pi c t i on of t he i m m e di a c i e s of da i l y l i f e N o s ym bol i s t ha s s pun m or e s ubt l e a nd c om pl i c a t e d c obw e bs out of hi s ow n t or t u r e d e nt r a i l s ( L e vi n, 18) N ol a n s i nt e r e s t s i n bot h t he vi vi d a ne c dot e s of c hi l dhood g r e e ne r y a nd t he t or t ur e d pi t f a l l s of h i s ha ndi c a ppe d pr e de c e s s or s m a r k a s i m i l a r s t yl e of s i m ul t a ne ous s e l f r e f e r e nc e a nd s e l f e xt e ns i on. J oyc e s de pi c t i on of t he poe t a s m e di a t or be t w e e n t he r e a l a nd s ur r e a l e voke s B e r ns t e i n s poe t i nt e r e s t e d i n t he c om pl e xi t y of t he r e a l i n l a ngua ge P l a c i ng t he poe t be t w e e n t he pe r s ona l a nd t he ge ne r a l br i ngs t o l i ght t he pr obl e m a t i c r ol e of s ubj e c t i vi t y i n t he r e l a t i ons hi p be t w e e n l a ngua ge a nd e xpe r i e nc e M a r j or i e P e r l of f s uc c i nc t l y s um m a r i z e s t he i s s ue i n he r e s s a y, T he W or d a s S uc h: L = A = N = G = U = A = G = E P oe t r y i n t he E i ght i e s B e r ns t e i n a nd hi s f e l l ow poe t s t a ke poe t i c di s c our s e t o be no t t he e xpr e s s i on i n w or ds of a n i ndi vi dua l s pe a ki ng s ubj e c t but t he c r e a t i on of t ha t s ubj e c t by t he pa r t i c ul a r s e t o f di s c our s e s ( c ul t ur a l s oc i a l hi s t or i c a l ) i n w hi c h he or s he f unc t i ons ( D a nc e of t he I nt e l l e c t 219 ) F or t he L a ngua ge poe t s i de nt i t y i s c ons t r uc t e d t hr ough pa r t i c i pa t i on i n c e r t a i n l i t e r a r y c ode s a va i l a bl e t o t he i ndi vi dua l vi a c ont i nge nt f a c t or s of s pa t i a l t e m por a l a nd s oc i o e c onom i c s t a t us B e r ns t e i n s pe e r R on

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62 S i l l i m a n s e e s t hi s i nde pe nde nc e of di s c our s e f r o m t he s ubj e c t a s e na bl i ng a c om m odi f i c a t i on of l a ngua ge : T he w or ds a r e n e ve r our ow n R a t he r t he y a r e our ow n us a ge s of a de t e r m i na t e c odi ng pa s s e d dow n t o us l i ke a l l ot he r pr oduc t s of c i vi l i z a t i on ( L B 167) I t f o l l ow s t ha t a n i ndi vi dua l voi c e i s onl y he a r d i n s o f a r a s i t e m e r ge s f r om a n e l onga t e d ne t w or k of ot h e r s i m i l a r voi c e s T he s ubj e c t i ve voi c e i s bot h f o r e gr ounde d by a m a s s of publ i c di s c our s e a nd i ns e pa r a bl e f r om i t I n T he I nt e r t w i ni ng T he C h i a s m M e r l e a u P ont y e xpr e s s e s a s i m i l a r s e nt i m e nt f r a m i ng i t a s a t e ns i on be t w e e n l a ngua ge a nd m e a ni ng, a s a c om m una l he i r l oom : T he m e a ni ng i s n ot on t he phr a s e s l i ke t he bu t t e r o n t he br e a d, l i ke a s e c ond l a ye r of ps yc hi c r e a l i t y s pr e a d ove r t he s ound: i t i s t he t ot a l i t y of w ha t i s s a i d, t he i nt e gr a l of a l l t he di f f e r e nt i a t i ons of t he ve r ba l c ha i n; i t i s gi ve n w i t h t he w o r ds f or t hos e w ho ha ve e a r s t o he a r ( V I 155) T hi s r e l a t i ons hi p be t w e e n t he s ubj e c t a nd t he c om m una l di s c our s e t he y pa r t i c i pa t e i n p r ovi de s a m ode l f or r e a di ng t he m e m oi r s of N ol a n a nd B a uby: s i m ul t a ne ous l y uni que a nd c om m on i n t he i r e xe r c i s e of l a ngua ge R e l a t e d t o a nd f ur t h e r c om pl i c a t i ng t he r ol e of s ubj e c t i vi t y a nd i de nt i t y i n l a ngua ge i s N ol a n s s e l f c ons c i ous us e of t hi r d pe r s on na r r a t i ve i n hi s m e m oi r T a ki ng hi m s e l f a s a n obj e c t he w r i t e s f r om a n e xt e r i or pe r s pe c t i ve de m ons t r a t i ng M e r l e a u P ont y s c l a i m t ha t t hr ough ot he r e ye s w e a r e f or our s e l ve s f ul l y vi s i bl e ( V I 143) N ol a n how e ve r goe s be yond s e l f obj e c t i f i c a t i on. N ot onl y doe s he c r e a t e t he c ha r a c t e r o f J os e ph M e e ha n t o w r i t e hi s l i f e s t or y i n a

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63 c ha pt e r of t he m e m oi r t ha t f oc us e s on t he e a r l y s t a ge s of h i s w r i t i ng he m a ke s a r e f e r e nc e t o t he e ve nt of hi s c ons t r uc t i on o f a t e xt ua l i de nt i t y: H e s a w l i f e r e c oi l be f or e hi m a nd us i ng t he t hi r d p e r s on he r e s c ue d poor s a d boyhood a nd c a s t i ng hi m s e l f i ns i de t he f r a m e of J os e ph M e e h a n he pr a nke d hi m s e l f a s t or y t e l l e r t he r e by c a s t i ng r e now n on hi m s e l f by da ngl i ng di s a bi l i t y be f o r e t h e r e a de r ( U T E T C 28 ) T he m ul t i l a ye r e d c ons t r uc t i on o f N ol a n s a ut ho r i a l i de nt i t y e a s i l y f a l l s i n l i ne w i t h t he l a ngua ge c e nt r i c c om pos i t i on of i de nt i t y t ha t P e r l of f de s c r i be s H i s w r i t i ng i s not t he l i ngui s t i c e xpr e s s i on of a n i ndi vi dua l s pe a ki ng s ubj e c t but t he c ons t r uc t i on of a s ubj e c t s i t ua t e d w i t hi n a s e t o f di s c our s e s F ur t he r i n c r e a t i ng l a ye r s of s ubj e c t i ve voi c e us i ng a he t o r e m ove s ubj e c t i vi t y f r om hi s w r i t i ng N ol a n i s e xhi bi t i ng S i l l i m a n s c onc e r n f or our i na b i l i t y t o pos s e s s t he l a ngua ge w e us e A t a ba s e l e ve l t he c ons t r uc t i on of a s ubj e c t di f f e r s i n B a uby s m e m oi r due t o t he f a c t t ha t i t i s w r i t t e n i n t he f i r s t pe r s on, a nd s o i t i s not e xpl i c i t l y s e l f c ons c i ous T he D i vi ng B e l l a nd T he B ut t e r f l y a l s o de m ons t r a t e s t he r ol e of l a ngua ge i n t he be f o r e a nd a f t e r s t r uc t ur e o f B a ub y s l i ngui s t i c i de nt i t y a s a m a ni f e s t a t i on of hi s be c om i ng di s a bl e d. B e f or e t he s t r oke B a uby w a s a bl e t o f or m ul a t e hi s w r i t i ng f i r s t ha nd us i ng hi s ow n voc a bul a r y. A f t e r w a r ds due t o t he uni que na t ur e of hi s w r i t i ng pr oc e s s hi s voi c e w a s c ons t r uc t e d w i t h a ne w voc a bul a r y, ne c e s s i t a t i ng t ha t he c ons t r uc t a ne w m i ni m a l i s t i c s e l f O nl y a bl e t o bl i nk a n e ye l i d, B a uby w r ot e a m e m oi r w i t h t he h e l p of a n a i de w ho c r e a t e d a n

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64 a l pha be t t ha t w a s r e or de r e d a c c or di ng t o e a c h l e t t e r s c om m on us a ge i n t he F r e nc h l a ngua ge S he w oul d r e a d t he a l pha be t a l ou d a t B a uby s be ds i de w a t c hi ng f or a r e s pons e f r om hi s e ye l i d t ha t w oul d i ndi c a t e t he l e t t e r he w a nt e d t o us e S ubs e que nt l y, t he pr oc e s s of c r e a t i ng t he m e m oi r w a s e xt r a or di na r i l y t e di ous T o m a ke t hi ngs m or e e f f i c i e nt t he a i de w oul d be gi n t o gue s s t he w or d B a uby i nt e nde d by i nf e r r i ng f r om t he f i r s t f e w l e t t e r s he b l i nke d a t B a uby r e f e r s t o t he dow nf a l l s of hi s e ye l i d a l pha be t s ys t e m a t one poi nt i n t he r e s ul t i ng m e m oi r : I unde r s t ood t he poe t r y of s uc h m i nd ga m e s w he n, i n a t t e m pt i ng t o a s k f or m y gl a s s e s ( l une t t e s ) I w a s a s ke d w ha t I w a nt e d t o do w i t h t he m oon ( l une ) ( B a uby, 22) H a vi ng w r i t t e n hi s m e m oi r t hr ough a c onve r s a t i ona l m e t hod, r e l yi ng upon t he m os t c om m onl y us e d l e t t e r s i n t he F r e nc h a l ph a be t a s w e l l a s t he voc a bul a r y of hi s a i de t he l a ngua ge t ha t m a ke s up T he D i vi ng B e l l a nd t he B ut t e r f l y i s not e nt i r e l y hi s ow n, i n a ddi t i on t o be i ng ( pr e d i c t a bl y) s i m pl e a nd br i e f A f us i on of a ut obi ogr a phy, r e por t a ge f i c t i on, a nd l yr i c H e j i ni a n s M y L i f e a c c e s s e s a s i m i l a r l y ge ne r a l i z e d voi c e a s t ha t of B a uby s m i ni m a l i s t l a ngua ge T he l a ngua ge o f M y L i f e i s non s pe c i f i c r e s i s t s pr i va t i z a t i on, a nd i s i nt e nt i ona l l y f a m i l i a r i n t he va gue s t s e ns e H e j i ni a n a c hi e ve s s uc h a s t yl e t hr ough r e pe t i t i ons of ph r a s e s s uc h a s t he one t ha t be gi ns t he t e xt A pa us e a r os e s om e t hi ng on pa pe r ( 7 ) T hough t he r e pe t i t i ons gi ve a c ohe s i ve s t r uc t ur e t o t he w or k, t he s i gni f i c a nc e of t he phr a s e s i s ne ve r m a de c l e a r t he r e l a t i on t he y be a r t o t he i r c ont e xt ne ve r m a de i m po r t a nt C om m e nt i ng on a r e l a t i ve s t e nde nc y t o l i e a bout he r ow n s t or y, H e j i ni a n poi nt s out a s t r uc t ur a l e f f e c t of he r ow n r e pe t i t i ons : B e c a u s e of t he i r r e c ur r e nc e w ha t ha d o r i gi na l l y s e e m e d m e r e l y de t a i l s of

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65 a t m os phe r e be c a m e i n t i m e t he m a t i c ( 13) I t i s t he f a c t of t he i r r e pe t i t i on a nd e vol vi ng a ppe a r a nc e s t ha t m a ke s t he phr a s e s s i gni f i c a nt A not he r e f f e c t o f t hi s de vi c e i s t he i l l us i on of f a m i l i a r i t y t ha t t he r e pe t i t i ons l e nd t o t he t e xt H e j i ni a n s e e m s be e xpl i c i t l y r e ve a l i ng t hi s i nt e nt i on i n t he c ont e xt of s uc h a r e pe t i t i on: I f ound m ys e l f de pe nde nt on a pa us e a r os e s om e t hi ng on pa pe r I t i s a w a y of s a yi ng, I w a nt you t oo t o ha ve t hi s e xpe r i e nc e s o t ha t w e a r e m o r e a l i ke s o t ha t w e a r e c l os e r boun d t oge t he r s ha r i ng a poi nt o f vi e w s o t ha t w e a r e c om i ng f r om t he s a m e pl a c e ( 21) A ddi t i ona l l y, H e j i ni a n i nc or por a t e s pr ove r bs a nd a phor i s m s s uc h a s pr e t t y i s a s pr e t t y doe s l e ndi ng a br oa d a nd t i m e l e s s qua l i t y t o t he t e xt l oc a l i z i ng i t s e ve nt s w i t hi n t he c ons c i ous ne s s of t he r e a de r s o t ha t r e a de r a nd a ut hor a r e c om i ng f r om t he s a m e pl a c e i ns of a r a s t ha t pl a c e i s w i t hi n l a ngua ge P e r l of f not e s t hi s s ubs t i t ut i on of t he ge ne r a l f o r t he s pe c i f i c i n l oc a t i ng t he dr i v i ng f o r c e of t he t e xt : H e j i ni a n s s t r a t e gy i s t o c r e a t e a l a ngua ge f i e l d t ha t c oul d be a nybody s a ut obi ogr a phy, a ki nd o f c ol l e c t i ve unc ons c i ous w hos e l a ngua ge w e a l l r e c ogni z e W he n a pe r s ona l m e m o r y i s pr e s e nt e d f or e xa m pl e I w a s a f r a i d o f m y unc l e w i t h t he w a r t on h i s nos e i t i s a t ot a l c om m onpl a c e M y L i f e i t s e e m s i s not m i ne a t a l l t he e m pha s i s i n a ny c a s e i s on w r i t i ng i t s e l f on t h e l i f e l i ve d by w or ds phr a s e s c l a us e s a nd s e nt e nc e s e ndow e d w i t h t he pos s i bi l i t y of e nt e r i ng upon ne w r e l a t i ons hi ps ( 225 )

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66 W hi l e H e j i ni a n s i nt e r e s t s s t r a y c ons i de r a bl y f r om t hos e of B a uby, t he qua l i t y o f t he i r l a ngua ge pr oduc e s c om pa r a bl e e f f e c t s i n t he r e a de r be i ng s i m ul t a ne ous l y s i ngul a r a nd ge ne r a l W hi l e i t i s unl i ke l y f or B a uby s r e a de r s hi p t o be pa t i e nt s of l oc ke d i n s yndr om e t he m e m or i e s dr e a m s a nd w a nde r i ngs of hi s m e m oi r a r e c ha r a c t e r i z e d by t he pe de s t r i a n qua l i t y of t he i r p hr a s i ng, l e a vi ng t he m a c c e s s i bl e t o a nybody. C ons e que nt l y, hi s di vi ng be l l i s not s i ngul a r l y e n c a ps ul a t i ng e ve r ybody now unde r s t a nds t ha t he c a n j o i n m e i n m y di vi ng be l l ( B a uby, 83) I f w e c ons i de r t ha t our us e of l a ngua ge pr e c e de s our e xpe r i e nc e of t he w or l d, t he di s t i nc t i on be t w e e n t he c ons t r uc t i on of w r i t i ng a nd t he i m m e di a c y o f e xpe r i e nc e w i l l be c om e m or e a m bi guous W r i t i ng doe s not s e e k t o t r a ns l a t e e xpe r i e nc e i t i s i ns t e a d a m ode or or ga n of pe r c e pt i on. A s P e r l of f put s i t T he a t t e m pt i s not t o a r t i c ul a t e t he c ur ve o f a pa r t i c ul a r e xpe r i e nc e but t o c r e a t e a f or m a l l i ngu i s t i c c ons t r uc t t ha t i t s e l f s ha pe s our e x pe r i e nc e of t he w o r l d a r ound us ( P e r l of f 230 ) I n hi s e s s a y, T i m e out of M ot i on: L ooki ng A he a d t o S e e B a c kw a r d, B e r ns t e i n i nt e r pr e t s t he na t ur e of l a ng ua ge not a s a n i ndi f f e r e nt s ys t e m f or de s c r i bi ng a n i nde pe nde nt l y e xt e r na l r e a l i t y but a s t he pe r c e pt ua l a nd c onc e pt ua l unc ons c i ous of r e a l i t y ( A P oe t i c s 107 ) A s B e r ns t e i n unde r s t a nds i t l a ngua ge c r e a t e s a nd m a i nt a i ns t he f r a m e w or k t ha t w e us e t o l ook a t a nd r e l a t e t o t he w or l d t ha t w e i nha bi t A s a r e s ul t ou r l a ngua ge i s s a t ur a t e d w i t h ou r r e f e r e nc e poi nt s t o t he w o r l d. T he s pa c e be t w e e n e xpe r i e nc e a nd l a ngua ge i s e s s e nt i a l t o e ve nt ua l l y e s t a bl i s hi ng a ne c e s s a r y r e l a t i ons hi p be t w e e n t he b ody a nd w r i t i ng L a ngua ge poe t s a r e e xpl i c i t a bout w r i t t e n l a ngua ge no t be i ng a doc um e nt a t i on o f

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67 e xpe r i e nc e a nd ye t m o r e a m bi guous on w ha t t he r e l a t i ons hi p be t w e e n w ha t i s w r i t t e n a nd w ha t i s w r i t t e n a bout i s I n M y L i f e H e j i ni a n s ugge s t s a c ount e r i nt ui t i ve or de r i ng of t he t w o : r a t he r t ha n e xpe r i e nc e be i ng r e duc e d t o e xpr e s s i on, H e j i ni a n not e s t he r e duc t i on o f e xpr e s s i on t o e xpe r i e nc e ( 114) T hi s pos i t s a pr i m a c y of l a ngua ge t ha t r e s ona t e s w i t h B e r ns t e i n s m ode l of l i ngui s t i c pe r c e pt i on. N i c k P i om bi no, how e ve r put s w r i t i ng a nd e xpe r i e nc e on t he s a m e pl a ne W hi l e not s hyi ng a w a y f r om di f f e r e nc e s be t w e e n t w o di m e ns i ona l w r i t t e n l a ngua ge a nd l i ve d e xpe r i e nc e he c onc e de s a hum a n e l e m e nt r unni ng t hr ough t he m i n hi s e s s a y, W r i t i ng a nd E xpe r i e nc i ng : W or ds c l os e l y s e e n a r e m i r r o r s of c ons c i ous ne s s t one s of t hought a nd f e e l i ngs t r a c e s a nd bone s of hum a n e xpe r i e nc e a nd not s i m pl y m e c ha ni c a l r e pr oduc t i ons a nd m a ni pul a t i ons of t he pr oc e s s e s of m e m or y ( L B 73 ) P l a c i ng e m pha s i s upon w or ds be i ng s e e n P i om bi n o dr a w s a t t e nt i on t o t he f a c t t ha t w r i t i ng be l ongs t o di s c our s e a nd i t i s t he r e f or e hum a n r a t he r t ha n m e c ha ni c a l P ut m or e bl unt l y, onl y t he e xpe r i e nc e of r e a di ng a dds a n e xpe r i e nt i a l c ha r a c t e r t o w r i t i ng ( L B 71) T hi s c o nne c t i on be t w e e n e xpe r i e nc e a nd di s c our s e f i t s i nt o bot h B e r ns t e i n s unde r s t a ndi ng of t he i ndi vi dua l a s t he y pa r t i c i pa t e i n c e r t a i n s t r a i ns of d i s c our s e a s w e l l a s H e j i ni a n s pr oj e c t of us i ng l a ngua ge i n a r e l a t a bl e or hum a n, w a y i n o r de r t o s i m ul a t e a s ha r e d e xpe r i e nc e w i t h t he r e a de r P i om bi no e xt e nds hi s di s c us s i on of w r i t i ng a nd e x pe r i e nc e t o m e m or y pr obl e m a t i z i ng t he r e l a t i ons hi p be t w e e n m e m or y w r i t t e n e xpe r i e nc e a nd

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68 r e m e m be r e d r e a di ng. H e s ugge s t s t ha t t he r e i s a n a na l ogous pl a y of m e m o r y i n di s t a nc i ng a nd br i ngi ng t oge t he r e xpe r i e nc e a nd w r i t i ng: W e c a n ge t a n a ppr oxi m a t i on of e xpe r i e nc e i n w o r ds i n t ha t m e m or i e s be c a us e of t he i r a m bi guous c ha r a c t e r i n t he r e a di ng a nd r e l a t i ng of w or ds t o t he s ubt l e t i e s of a c t ua l e xp e r i e nc e r e e na c t t he m e a ni ngs w e a ppl i e d t o e xpe r i e nc e s j us t a s w e r e e na c t t he m e a ni ngs w e a ppl y t o t he s e que nc e of w or ds ( L B 74) T he i m pl i c a t i on f or B a uby s t e xt i s t ha t w hi l e i t i s onl y a n a ppr oxi m a t i on of hi s e xpe r i e nc e a nd pe r ha ps e ve n a r e a ppr oxi m a t i on g i ve n hi s pe c ul i a r c i r c um s t a nc e w ha t i s l os t i n s ubt l e t y w i l l be c om pe ns a t e d f or by a de gr e e of m e a ni ng a ppl i e d t o i t by t he r e a de r I n t hi s s e ns e t he e xpe r i e nc e of r e a di ng c r e a t e s m e a ni ng. T hi s s ha r e d m e a ni ng, a s i t r e s i de s i n t he s pa c e c r e a t e d b y a m bi gui t y, c l os e l y r e s e m bl e s t he c ha r a c t e r i z a t i on of e xpe r i e nc e i n H e j i ni a n s M y L i f e T he r e a de r s i nvol ve m e nt i n bot h B a uby s a nd H e j i ni a n s t e xt s i s f a c i l i t a t e d by t he i m pe r s ona l na t ur e of t he i r l a ngua ge T he r e s ul t i s a n a ppr oxi m a t i on of e xpe r i e nc e a s a r e e na c t m e nt of m e a ni ng. T hi s c a n be unde r s t ood i n M e r l e a u P ont y s t e r m s a s t he a bi l i t y o f l a ngua ge t o ope n a ne w s e ns e or ga n f or t he r e a de r T he r e a di ng w r i t i ng e xpe r i e nc e t r i um vi r a t e t ha t P i om bi no de ve l ops ha s c om pl e x i m pl i c a t i ons w he n a ppl i e d t o B a uby a nd N ol a n s w or k, a s t he w r i t i ng pr oc e s s e s of bot h a ut ho r s ne c e s s i t a t e d t he pr e s e nc e of a not he r a bl e bodi e d, pe r s on. W hi l e f o r N ol a n i t i s t r ue t ha t hi s r e a de r s hi p onc e he w a s publ i s he d w a s e nor m ous l y s i gni f i c a nt f o r t he de ve l opm e nt of hi s a ut hor i a l i de nt i t y a s e vi de nc e d i n hi s de c l a r a t i on t ha t N ow t hi s w a s hi s m om e nt of bi r t h now he ha d

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69 de f e a t e d dye d de a t h a nd be s t ow e d bi r t h t o h i m s e l f H e bi r t he d a n a ut hor ( U T E T C 92 ) w r i t i ng w a s a m e di a t e d a c t c r e a t i ng l a ye r s of r e a de r s hi p, bot h dur i ng t he c om pos i t i on of t he t e xt a nd a f t e r w a r ds B a uby di e d j us t t w o da ys a f t e r t he publ i c a t i on of T he D i vi ng B e l l a nd t he B ut t e r f l y a nd s o a ny e f f e c t t ha t hi s r e a de r s hi p ha d w a s s hor t l i ve d. T he r ol e o f r e a di ng pl a ye d a l a r ge r pa r t i n t he c om pos i t i on of t he t e xt t ha n i t di d a f t e r t he f a c t A r e a ppr opr i a t e d s i gni f i c a nc e of r e a di ng i s t hus ne c e s s a r y i n or de r t o unde r s t a nd i t s r ol e i n B a uby a nd N ol a n s t e xt s B a uby s c onve r s a t i ona l w r i t i ng pr oc e s s m a ke s pr i m a r y t he e xpe r i e nc e of w r i t i ng i n w r i t i ng I n a s e ns e t he m e m oi r i s w r i t t e n a bout e xpe r i e nc i ng t he w o r l d a s a pr oc e s s of w r i t i ng t hr ough t he l a ngua ge of a not he r pe r s on. B a uby e m pha s i z e s hi s l os s of a ut onom y a nd hi s s t r uggl e w i t h s e l f w i l l a l l t hr ough t he voc a bul a r y of hi s a i de S i m i l a r l y, t hough t he de gr e e of m e di a t i on i s di f f e r e nt N ol a n s m e m oi r i s i nt e r e s t e d i n doc um e nt i ng hi s a c qui s i t i on of a w r i t i ng pr oc e s s a nd i t s e vol ut i on a s pa r a l l e l e d by hi s e vol v i ng s e l f hood a nd r e l a t i ons hi p t o t he w or l d. I ni t i a l l y b i bs be de c ke d he ba s hf ul l y br ought f o r t h d r one d, be s poke d l e t t e r s be s t e d ont o a pa ge by a be nt nu r s e d, a nd c r ude l y gi ve n nod of hi s s t ubbor n he a d ( U T E T C 26) H e us e d a uni c or n s t i c k t ha t w a s a t t a c he d t o hi s f o r e he a d t o r e a c h t he ke ys but ne e de d t he he l p of hi s m ot he r t o c ont r ol t he m ove m e nt f r om ke y t o ke y. T oge t he r t he y w ou l d s t r uggl e t he boy bl ow i ng l i ke a w ha l e f r om t he huge e f f or t of t r yi ng t o di s c i pl i ne hi s be da m ne d body ( U T E T C 54) L a t e r he t ook L i o r e s a l t a bl e t s t ha t he l pe d hi m c ont r ol a m us c l e i n hi s ne c k, t o f u r t he r f oc us hi s c o nt r ol i n t he a c t i on o f t yp i ng. T hi s l a s t de ve l opm e nt e na bl e d N ol a n t o pr oduc e e nough w r i t i ng t o ga i n not or i e t y

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70 f or hi s w o r k, i n t u r n p r ovi di ng hi m w i t h a n i de nt i t y pr e vi ous l y i na c c e s s i bl e N ow he s ha r e d t he s a m e w or l d a s e ve r yone e l s e ; he c oul d c hoos e how m uc h t o t e l l a nd c r a f t i l y de c i de how m uc h t o hol d ba c k. H i s voi c e w oul d be hi s w r i t t e n w or d ( U T E T C 93 ) T he s ubs t i t ut i on of w r i t t e n l a ngua ge f or s pe e c h m u s t not be pa s s e d ove r a s a n e qua l e xc ha nge W hi l e f i ndi ng a n a c c e s s t o l a ngua ge i s a t r i um ph f or B a uby a nd N ol a n, a l l ow i ng t he m t o pa r t i c i pa t e i n t he w o r l d, i t i s not a bl e t ha t t he i r pa r t i c i pa t i on i s c a l c ul a t e d a nd c a r e f ul T he p r e m e di t a t e d qua l i t y of t he i r w r i t t e n l a ngua ge ha r ke ns ba c k t o B e r ns t e i n s c r i t i c i s m o f s pe e c h ba s e d poe t r y t ha t pr e s um e s a poe t i c i de nt i t y t ha t pr e e xi s t s a poe t i c c ons t r uc t i on of a r t i f i c e T o f ur t he r e xpe di t e t he w r i t i ng p r oc e s s B a uby w oul d c om pos e a nd m e m or i z e f ut u r e p a s s a ge s ove r ni ght r e a dy t o be c om m un i c a t e d t o h i s a i de t he ne xt m o r ni ng. C ons i s t e nt w i t h B e r ns t e i n s nor m a t i ve t r e a t m e nt o f a r t i f i c e i n oppos i t i on t o a bs or pt i on, B a uby s voi c e i s a s e l f c ons c i ous l i ngui s t i c c ons t r uc t F ur t he r m or e t he i s s ue of hi s m e m or i z a t i on of f ut ur e pa s s a ge s of t he t e xt i nt r oduc e s a di s t i nc t i on be t w e e n r e m e m be r e d l a ngua ge a s a c o ns t r uc t e d f or m a nd s pont a ne ous s pe e c h l a ngua ge T he di ve r ge nc e s e e m s t o or i gi na t e i n t he t e m por a l di c t a t i on o f i nt e nt i o na l w or d s e l e c t i on, t h e i m pl i c a t i on be i ng t ha t w he n gi ve n t i m e a us e of l a ngua ge i s a l l ow e d t o be c om e s i gni f i c a nt l y m o r e s e l f c ons c i ous t ha n w he n hur r i e d. I t i s i m por t a nt t o be m i ndf ul o f B e r ns t e i n s di s t i nc t i on be t w e e n s e l f c ons c i ous ne s s ( a s a r t i f i c e ) a nd a ut he nt i c i t y ( a s a bs or pt i on) T he r e i s a di f f e r e nc e be t w e e n r e m e m b e r e d w r i t t e n l a ngua ge a nd t he c om pos i t i on of l a ngua ge l i ne by l i ne a t a ke yboa r d ( e xe m pl i f i e d by t he t e m por a l

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71 pr e s e nc e i n N ol a n s w r i t i ng pr oc e s s ) W hi l e bot h a r e l i ngui s t i c c ons t r uc t i ons t he f or m e r r e l a t i ons hi p t o l a ngua ge dr a w s out t he s pe c i f i c pr e s e nc e of s e l f c ons c i ous ne s s t ha t i s not a n a t t e m pt a t a ut he nt i c i t y. A n e s s e nt i a l f a c t or i n t hi s di s t i nc t i on i s t he a m bi guous ow ne r s hi p o f l a ngua g e a s i t i s gr a ppl e d w i t h i n que s t i ons of s e l f a nd m e m or y H e j i n i a n a ppr oa c he s t he i m pos s i bi l i t y of a ut he nt i c i t y i n l a ngua ge by bl ur r i ng a s e ns e of pe r s ona l m e m or y a s i t i s c ons t r uc t e d i n l a ngua ge us i ng c om m on phr a s e s t h a t no one ow ns a s w e l l a s r e pe t i t i ons t ha t r e f e r t o no one pa r t i c ul a r t he m a t i c s t r uc t ur e T he r e s ul t i s a di r e c t m a ni f e s t a t i on of t he i m pl i c a t i ons of l a ngua ge t ha t r e s i s t s pr i va t i z a t i on. W hi l e be i ng a pr oc e s s of s e l f c ons t r uc t i on t hr o ugh l a ngua ge w r i t i ng w a s a bodi l y a c t i on f or bot h B a uby a nd N ol a n. B a uby s m e m oi r w a s c om pos e d by t he i nt e r a c t i on of a n e ye l i d w i t h t he obs e r va nt ha nd of a n a i de w hi l e N o l a n s w a s w r i t t e n by t he noddi ng o f hi s he a d a nd t he s uppor t a nd gui da nc e of hi s m o t he r s hol d on hi s ne c k. S t a ndi ng i n c ont r a s t t o poe t L a r r y E i gne r w ho a l s o l i ve d w i t h c e r e br a l pa l s y, N ol a n d r a w s a n e xpl i c i t c onne c t i o n be t w e e n t he phys i c a l a r duous ne s s of hi s w r i t i ng p r oc e s s a nd t he s t yl e of hi s poe t i c l a ngua ge W he n j our na l i s t s c a m e t o hi s hom e t o w r i t e s t or i e s a bout hi m N ol a n e nc our a ge d t he m t o c up hi s c hi n i n t he i r ow n ha nds i n o r de r t ha t t he y c oul d f e e l t he unde r c ur r e nt s o f e l e c t r i c i t y r unni ng a nd m ol e s t i ng hi s a t t e m pt s t o s t r i ke a l e t t e r O nl y t hus c oul d he c onve y hi s br i e f ne s s i n l a ngua ge onl y t hus c oul d he e xpl a i n w hy hi s r hyt hm of s oun d w a s j um py a nd j a m m i ng on t he e a r ( U T E T C 90)

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72 A s hi nt e d a t i n t hi s pa s s a g e N ol a n s i nt e r a c t i ons w i t h ot he r s a r e s t r ongl y e f f e c t e d by bodi l y c ont a c t f l e s h t o f l e s h. T hi s quot e a l s o s ugge s t s a n a na l ogy be t w e e n r e a di ng, or s ha r i ng t e xt a nd t ouc hi ng. T he s i gni f i c a nc e of t a c t i l i t y i s a l s o pr e s e nt i n t he g ui di ng t ouc h o f N ol a n s m ot he r i n hi s s t r uggl e w i t h t ypi ng. H e r ha nds do n ot a c t a s pr os t he s e s t o hi s body, but r a t he r a s r e s pons i ve r e a de r s of hi s bodi l y i m pu l s e s : A s he s i t a nc e m a r ks m os t of m y a t t e m p t s t o s t r i ke a l e t t e r t hos e ha nds w a i t a nd s e ns i t i ve l y f e e l i ng t he w a s he d up pow e r t he y ho l d m y he a d unt i l t he s pa s m ha s w a s t e d i t s e l f ( U T E T C 83) T he w r i t i ng p r oc e s s a s a m ot he r hol di ng he r s on, i s s i m ul t a ne ous l y a l i ngui s t i c pr oc e s s a nd a n i nt e r a c t i on o f a bl e bodi e d f l e s h w i t h d i s a bl e d, s pa s t i c f l e s h. M or e t ha n m e r e l y a c on f r ont a t i on t hi s i nt e r a c t i on i s a s ha r i ng, or i nt e r c or por e a l e xpe r i e nc e T hi s not i on i s r e f l e c t e d i n a n a ne c dot e i n N ol a n s m e m oi r of a t r i p i n w hi c h he w a s a bl e t o s w i m s us pe nde d i n t he w a t e r by t he ha nds of hi s f a m i l y m e m be r s a nd t hr ough t he i r e f f or t s he s a m pl e d t he j oys of t he a bl e bodi e d ( U T E T C 76) I n hi s e s s a y, T he I nt e r t w i ni ng T he C hi a s m M e r l e a u P ont y pos i t s t he pos s i bi l i t y of a n ove r l a p, a nd r e ve r s a l of t ouc hi ng a nd be i ng t ouc he d, s e e i ng a nd be i ng s e e n, t he s e nt i e nt a nd t he s e ns i bl e I n s o doi n g, he unde r m i ne s not onl y t he di s t i nc t i on be t w e e n body a nd m i nd a s w a s hi s p r i m a r y c onc e r n i n P he nom e nol ogy of P e r c e pt i on but a ddi t i ona l l y t ha t of body a nd ot he r bodi e s ( i nt e r c or por e i t y ) a s w e l l a s body a nd w or l d I ni t i a l l y l oc a t i ng t he body, not a s a pe r m a ne nc e i n t he w or l d bu t s om e t hi ng t ha t i s w i t h m e M e r l e a u P ont y w r i t e s :

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73 I obs e r ve e xt e r na l obj e c t s w i t h m y body, I ha ndl e t he m e xa m i ne t he m w a l k a r ound t he m but m y body i t s e l f i s a t hi ng w hi c h I do not obs e r ve : i n o r de r t o be a bl e t o do s o, I s houl d n e e d t he us e of a s e c ond body w hi c h i t s e l f w oul d be unobs e r va bl e ( P P 104 ) T he s e pa r a t i on of body a nd w or l d m us t be unde r m i ne d i n or de r t o e s t a bl i s h a c onne c t i on be t w e e n l a ngua ge a s de s c r i be d by t he L a ngua ge poe t s a nd t he body of t he di s a bl e d a u t hor M e r l e a u P on t y s ont ol ogy o f t he f l e s h pr ovi de s us w i t h a m ode l f or unde r s t a ndi ng a r e l a t i ons hi p be t w e e n bo dy a nd w or l d t ha t i s l i ngui s t i c C r i t i c a l of h i s e a r l i e r w o r k f or be i ng c ons t r a i ne d b y a phi l os ophy of c ons c i ous ne s s w r i t t e n f r om t he pos i t i on of a r e f l e c t i ve phi l os ophy, M e r l e a u P ont y s w r i t i ng i n T he V i s i bl e a nd T he I nvi s i bl e d e m ons t r a t e s a n a t t e m pt t o m ove a w a y f r om s ubj e c t ba s e d phi l os ophy, a nd t o s e e k a pe r s pe c t i ve on t he w o r l d t ha t i s of t he w or l d, c ons t i t ut e d w i t hi n t he w or l d W hi l e M e r l e a u P ont y i ni t i a l l y c l a i m e d t ha t i ns of a r a s i t s e e s or t ouc he s t he w or l d, m y body c a n t he r e f or e be ne i t he r s e e n nor t ouc he d ( P P 105) he doubl e s b a c k on hi m s e l f c om pl e t e l y i n T he I nt e r t w i ni ng H i s us e of t he t e r m f l e s h t o de not e t he ge ne r a l i t y of t he s e ns i bl e m a r ks a de l i be r a t e m ove f r om t he t r a ppi n gs of s ubj e c t i ve r e f l e c t i on A s a n i nt e r t w i ni ng, t he f l e s h i s bot h t he r e ve r s i bi l i t y o f t he s e nt i e nt a nd t he s e ns i bl e a nd t he ga p be t w e e n t he t w o. O ur e m bodi e d s ubj e c t i vi t y, a c c or di ng t o M e r l e a u P ont y, i s ne ve r l oc a t e d pur e l y i n e i t he r our t a ngi bi l i t y or i n ou r t ouc hi ng but i n t he i nt e r t w i ni ng of t he s e t w o a s pe c t s w he r e t he t w o l i ne s of a c hi a s m i nt e r s e c t w i t h one a not he r T he c hi a s m a c t s a s a n i m a ge t o de s c r i be how t hi s ove r l a ppi ng a nd e nc r oa c hm e nt c a n

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74 t a ke pl a c e be t w e e n a pa i r t ha t ne ve r t he l e s s r e t a i ns a s e pa r a t i on, i n t ha t t ouc hi ng a nd t ouc he d a r e ne ve r c ol l a ps e d i nt o one a not he r : T he t w o pa r t s a r e t ot a l pa r t s a nd ye t a r e not s upe r pos a bl e ( V I 134 ) T he d i ve r ge nc e be t w e e n s e nt i e nt a nd s e ns i bl e i s c on s t i t ut i ve of t he pos s i bi l i t y o f s ubj e c t i vi t y. A c c ount i ng f or t he i m pos s i bi l i t y of s i m ul t a ne ous l y e xpe r i e nc i ng t ouc hi ng a nd be i ng t ouc he d w he n t ouc hi ng one s ow n ha nd M e r l e a u P ont y e xpl a i ns : I a m a l w a ys on t he s a m e s i de of m y body; i t p r e s e nt s i t s e l f t o m e i n one i nva r i a bl e pe r s pe c t i ve i f t he s e e xpe r i e nc e s ne ve r e xa c t l y ove r l a p, i f t he y s l i p a w a y a t t he ve r y m o m e nt t he y a r e a bout t o r e j oi n, i f t he r e i s a l w a ys a s hi f t a s pr e a d, be t w e e n t he m t h i s i s pr e c i s e l y be c a us e m y t w o ha nds a r e pa r t of t he s a m e b ody, be c a us e i t m ove s i t s e l f i n t he w o r l d, be c a us e I he a r m ys e l f bot h f r om w i t hi n a nd f r om w i t hout ( V I 148) I n t hi s pa s s a ge i t i s e a s y t o c onf l a t e t he f l e s h w i t h bodi l y f l e s h. H ow e ve r one m us t be m i ndf ul of M e r l e a u P ont y s r e m i nde r s of t he ge ne r a l i t y of t he f l e s h. H e r e pe a t e dl y de s c r i be s i t a s a n i m m a t e r i a l ont ol ogi c a l m e a s ur e or e l e m e nt : T he f l e s h i s not m a t t e r i s not m i nd i s not s ubs t a nc e T o de s i gna t e i t w e s houl d ne e d t he ol d t e r m e l e m e nt i n t he s e ns e i t w a s us e d t o s pe a k of w a t e r a i r e a r t h a nd f i r e t ha t i s i n t he s e ns e of a ge ne r al t hi ng m i dw a y be t w e e n t he s pa t i o t e m por a l i ndi vi dua l a nd t he i de a a s or t of i nc a r na t e p r i nc i pl e t ha t br i ngs a s t yl e of be i ng w he r e ve r t he r e i s a f r a gm e nt of be i ng T he f l e s h i s i n t hi s s e ns e a n e l e m e nt of B e i ng ( V I 139 )

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75 F r om t hi s unde r s t a ndi ng, i t f ol l ow s t ha t f l e s h r e f e r s not t o s ki n but r a t he r t o a r e l a t i on t ha t i s i n oppos i t i on t o a d i a l e c t i c of t he s i s a nt i t he s i s s ynt he s i s F l e s h i s a n os c i l l a t i on be t w e e n a l t e r i t i e s : t ouc hi ng a nd t ouc he d, s e e i ng a nd s e e n, vi s i bl e a nd i nvi s i bl e I t i s a r e ve r s i bi l i t y a l w a ys i m m i ne n t a nd ne ve r r e a l i z e d i n f a c t ( V I 148) M e r l e a u P ont y di vul ge s w ha t he i s r e f e r r i ng t o a s t he vi s i bl e a nd t he i nvi s i bl e t ow a r ds t he e nd of t he e s s a y, i n h i s di s c us s i on of l a ngua ge a nd i de a s H ow e ve r i n o r de r t o a ddr e s s t hi s l a t e r s e c t i on, w e m us t f i r s t l ook a t t he t r a j e c t or y of hi s t hought r e ga r di ng s i gni f i c a t i on. A d r i vi ng f o r c e of T he V i s i bl e a nd T he I nvi s i bl e w a s t he pr obl e m a t i c na t u r e of t he p r e r e f l e c t i ve c ogi t o of M e r l e a u P ont y s e a r l i e r w or k, a s i t a s s um e s t he pos s i bi l i t y of a c ons c i ous ne s s w i t hout l a ngua ge H i s not i on o f t he pr e r e f l e c t i ve c ogi t o de pe nds upon t he i l l us i on o f non l i ngui s t i c s i gni f i c a t i on, a n i l l us i on r e c ogni z a bl e i n t he w r i t i ng of bot h B a uby a nd N ol a n. M e r l e a u P ont y l a t e r w r i t e s : W ha t I c a l l t he t a c i t c ogi t o i s i m pos s i bl e T o ha ve t he i de a of t hi nki ng ( i n t he s e ns e of t hough t of s e e i ng a nd t ho ught of f e e l i ng) t o m a ke t he phe nom e nol ogi c a l r e duc t i on t o t he t hi ngs t he m s e l ve s t o r e t ur n t o i m m a ne nc e a nd t o c ons c i o us ne s s i t i s ne c e s s a r y t o ha ve w or ds I t i s by t he c om bi na t i on of w o r ds t ha t I f o r m t he t r a ns c e nde nt a l a t t i t ude ( V I 171) T hi s de ni a l of t he t a c i t c ogi t o, a s a n i m pos s i bl e r e d uc t i on, e voke s our e a r l i e r di s c us s i on of s pont a ne i t y a nd c ons t r uc t i on. A l i gni ng t he vi s i bl e w i t h s i gn a nd t he i nvi s i bl e w i t h s i gni f i e d, t he i r i nt e r t w i ni ng r e s e m bl e s t he i nt e r e s t of t he L a ngua ge

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76 poe t s i n t he r e s i s t a nc e of l a ngua ge i t s i na bi l i t y t o be f i xe d t o m e a ni ngs R e f e r r i ng t o t he unt e na bl e obj e c t of s i gni f i c a t i on, M e r l e a u P ont y not e s a s i m i l a r r e s i s t a nc e : E a c h t i m e w e w a nt t o ge t a t i t i m m e di a t e l y, or l a y ha nds on i t or c i r c um s c r i be i t or s e e i t unve i l e d w e do i n f a c t f e e l t ha t t he a t t e m pt i s m i s c onc e i ve d, t ha t i t r e t r e a t s i n t he m e a s ur e t ha t w e a ppr oa c h ( V I 150 ) T he i nvi s i bl e i s e va s i ve i n s o f a r a s i t i s a pos s i bi l i t y r a t he r t ha n a r e a l i z a t i on. I t c a nnot be r e ve a l e d a nd ye t i t i s a l w a ys pr e s e nt A s t he i nvi s i bl e i s i nt e r t w i ne d w i t h t he vi s i bl e i de a l i t y l u r ks a l ongs i de of t he w or d : W e do not s e e do not he a r t he i de a s a nd not e ve n w i t h t he m i nd s e ye or w i t h t he t hi r d e a r : a nd ye t t he y a r e t he r e be hi nd t he s ounds or be t w e e n t he m be hi nd t he l i ght s or be t w e e n t he m r e c ogni z a bl e t hr ough t he i r a l w a ys s pe c i a l a l w a ys uni que m a nne r of e nt r e nc hi ng t he m s e l ve s be hi nd t he m ( V I 151) E l a bor a t i ng upon t he ubi qui t y of t he i nv i s i bl e M e r l e a u P ont y not e s t ha t t he s t yl i s t i c uni f i c a t i on of t he body s e r ve s a s a m ode l f or t he body s c ohe s i on w i t h t he w or l d. B ot h a r e uni f i e d a s s t yl e of be i ng t ha t i s of t he f l e s h : T he r e i s a s t r i c t i de a l i t y i n e xpe r i e nc e s t ha t a r e e xp e r i e nc e s of t he f l e s h: t he m om e nt s of t he s ona t a t he f r a gm e nt s of t he l um i nous f i e l d, a dhe r e t o one a not he r w i t h a c ohe s i on w i t ho ut c onc e pt w hi c h i s of t he s a m e t ype a s t he c ohe s i on of t he pa r t s of m y body, or t he c ohe s i on of m y body w i t h t he w or l d ( V I 15 2) T he c ohe s i on t ha t he r e f e r s t o i s t ha t w hi c h c a nnot be pe r c e i ve d, t hough i t a r i s e s f r om a nd i nf or m s pe r c e pt i on. H e c om pa r e s i t t o t he l i t t l e ph r a s e i n m us i c t ha t

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77 P r ous t de s c r i be s i n S w a nn s W a y a s s om e t hi ng c om m uni c a bl e t o a l l w ho he a r i t e ve n t hough i t i s unbe know n t o t he m s e l ve s ( V I 1 49) I t i s j us t a s i nde c i phe r a bl e a s t he a l w a ys pr e s e nt di a l ogue be t w e e n body a nd w or l d. H e l a t e r a ddr e s s e s t he r e l a t i ons hi p be t w e e n t he f l e s h of l a ngua ge a nd t he f l e s h of t he body, bot h be i ng vi s i bl e i n c ont r a s t w i t h t he i nvi s i bi l i t y o f pur e i de a l i t y. H i s c om pa r i s on e voke s B a uby s a nd N ol a n s de s c r i pt i ons of a ne w s e ns e of t he i r bodi e s onc e a bl e t o a c c e s s l a ngua ge : pur e i de a l i t y i s i t s e l f not w i t hout f l e s h nor f r e e d f r om hor i z on s t r uc t ur e s : i t l i ve s of t he m t hough t he y be a not he r f l e s h a nd ot he r hor i z ons I t i s a s t hough t he vi s i bi l i t y t ha t a ni m a t e s t he s e ns i bl e w or l d w e r e t o e m i gr a t e not out s i de of e ve r y body but i nt o a not he r l e s s he a vy, m o r e t r a ns pa r e nt body a s t ho ugh i t w e r e t o c ha nge f l e s h, a ba ndoni ng t he f l e s h of t he body f or t ha t of l a ngua ge a nd t he r e by w oul d be e m a nc i pa t e d but n ot f r e e d f r om e ve r y c ondi t i on ( V I 153) T he f a c t o f i t s no t be i ng f r e e d f r om e ve r y c ondi t i on, i s a s i gni f i c a nt one i n or de r t o a voi d a m i s r e a di ng of M e r l e a u P ont y s de s c r i pt i on of t he i nvi s i bl e a s i t i s e m bodi e d by l a ngua ge T he vi s i bl e i s not s ubor di n a t e t o t he i nv i s i bl e I ns t e a d, a c hi a s m br i ngs t he t w o t oge t he r P ur e i de a l i t y m us t not be ha s t i l y pl a c e d i n t he di s e m bodi e d r e a l m of t he ps yc hol ogi c a l f or i t i s o f t he w or l d a s f l e s h. T h i s i s c ons i s t e nt w i t h M e r l e a u P ont y s e a r l y i ns i s t e nc e u pon t he i ns e pa r a bi l i t y o f t he ps yc hol ogi c a l a nd t he phys i ol ogi c a l i n P he nom e nol ogy of P e r c e pt i on T he

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78 i m por t a nt di f f e r e nc e i s t ha t be t w e e n pur e i de a l i t y a nd pur e t hought one i s i nvi s i bl e t he ot he r i ne xi s t e nt T he i m be dde dne s s of t he i nv i s i bl e i de a l i t y i n t he f l e s h of t he w or l d pr ovi de s a l i nk be t w e e n B e r ns t e i n a nd hi s f e l l ow p oe t s i nt e r pr e t a t i on of ou r us e of l a ngua ge a nd M e r l e a u P ont y s c hi a s m T hi s l i n k w i l l r e ve a l t he ne c e s s a r i l y bodi l y na t ur e o f B a uby s a nd N ol a n s t e xt s T he r e l a t i ons hi p m os t r e l e va nt t o e m bodi e d w r i t i ng i s t he i nt e r t w i ni ng o f t he s i gn a nd t he s i gni f i e d: A s t he r e i s a r e ve r s i bi l i t y of t he s e e i ng a nd t he vi s i bl e a nd a s a t t he poi nt w he r e t he t w o m e t a m or phos e s c r os s w ha t w e c a l l pe r c e pt i on i s bor n, s o a l s o t he r e i s a r e ve r s i bi l i t y of t he s pe e c h a nd w ha t i t s i gni f i e s ; t he s i gni f i c a t i on i s w ha t c om e s t o s e a l t o c l os e t o ga t he r up t he m ul t i p l i c i t y of t he phys i c a l phys i ol ogi c a l l i ngui s t i c m e a ns of e l oc ut i on, t o c ont r a c t t he m i nt o one s ol e a c t a s t he vi s i on c om e s t o c om pl e t e t he a e s t he s i ol ogi c a l body ( V I 154) M e r l e a u P ont y s s ol e a c t i s t he e l e m e nt o f c hoi c e i n l i ngui s t i c c ons t r uc t i on a s de s c r i be d by L a ngua ge poe t s S ubj e c t i vi t y, a s c ons t i t ut e d by t he ga p i n t he f l e s h, r e s e m bl e s t he L a ngua ge poe t s i nt e r p r e t a t i on of t h e l i ngui s t i c s ubj e c t i ns of a r a s t he e xpe r i e nc e of s ubj e c t i vi t y i s l i m i t e d t o a m e a ns of pe r c e pt i on. B ot h f or m s o f s ubj e c t i vi t y a r e c ha r a c t e r i z e d by a s ubj e c t i n t he f a c e of t he i r de pe nde nc e upon i nt e r a c t i ons w i t h t he w o r l d f r om w hi c h t he y e m a na t e C ons e que nt l y, t he s ubj e c t i s i n s t a t e of c ons t a nt f l ux. I t i s i n t hi s i ns t a bi l i t y, a s a n une ndi ng pa r t i c i pa t i on i n t he w or l d, t ha t w e di s c ove r t he pr e s e nc e of r e e m bodi m e nt a s i t i s pr e s e nt e d i n t he t e xt s of di s a bl e d a ut ho r s R e e m bodi m e nt de s c r i be s t he c ons t a nt r e ne w a l of a

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79 r e l a t i on be t w e e n s ubj e c t a nd w or l d F or B e r ns t e i n, t he s pe a ke r or w r i t e r s houl d ne ve r r e a c h a c om f o r t a bl e r e l a t i ons hi p w i t h l a ngua ge W or ds m us t a l w a ys r e s i s t ut i l i t y, a nd t he poe t m us t m a i nt a i n a n i nt e r e s t i n t h e i r r e s i s t a nc e F or M e r l e a u P ont y, t he f l e s h i s a l w a ys a t a poi nt o f ne a r c onve r ge nc e a nd r e ve r s i bi l i t y, s i m ul t a ne ous l y s i ngul a r a nd m ul t i pl i c i t ous I n r e e m bodi m e nt t he r e i s no s ynt h e s i s or t e l os t o be f ound W hi l e t he l i ngui s t i c s ubj e c t s pa r t i c i pa t i on i n d i s c our s e i s c ont i nge nt upon f a c t or s of t i m e a nd pl a c e a c c or di ng t o L a ngua ge p oe t s M e r l e a u P ont y s s e ns e of e m bodi m e nt i s s ubj e c t t o t he f a c t i c i t y o f phys i c a l i t y. F o r B a uby, i t i s c ons t i t ut i ve of hi s w r i t i ng t ha t he l i ve d i n F r a nc e i n t he 21 s t c e n t ur y, a nd w a s i nvol ve d i n t he f a s hi on m a ga z i ne w or l d, a nd t ha t he s uf f e r e d a s t r o ke t ha t l e f t hi m w i t h l oc ke d i n s yndr om e N ol a n i s a pr oduc t o f hi s I r i s h he r i t a ge hi s f a t he r s l ove o f t h e w or d, a nd hi s c e r e br a l pa l s y. H ow e ve r t he e m bodi e d w r i t e r i s not c ons t i t ut e d by t he s e c ont i nge nc i e s A s B e r ns t e i n c l a i m s W e a r e e ve r y w he r e s e e i ng t hr ough [ l a ngua ge ] l i m i t e d t o i t bu t not by i t ( L B 44 ) W e a r e s i m i l a r l y s e e i ng t hr ough a nd l i m i t e d t o but not by, t he f l e s h. I n t hi s c om pa r i s on w e m a y de t e c t a di ve r ge nc e be t w e e n B e r ns t e i n s a nd M e r l e a u P ont y s m ode l s of pe r c e pt i on M e r l e a u P ont y s i nt e r t w i ni ng uni f i c a t i on of t he f l e s h i nvol ve s l a ngua ge but i s no t l i m i t e d t o l a ngua ge T he s t yl e t ha t un i f i e s t he s ubj e c t c an be but i s not s t r i c t l y l i ngui s t i c B e r ns t e i n, how e ve r i ns i s t s t ha t w e c a nn ot pe r c e i ve w i t hout l a ngua ge I t f ol l ow s t ha t t he c ons t r uc t i on o r uni t y of t he s ubj e c t f o r B e r ns t e i n, i s c ons t i t ut e d by t he i r pa r t i c i pa t i on i n a s e t of di s c our s e s B y c on t r a s t M e r l e a u P ont y s c ons t r uc t i on of t he s ubj e c t i s m a r ke d by pos s i bi l i t y a s a f l e s hl y be i ng

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80 W hi l e B e r ns t e i n a nd hi s c ol l e a gue s br ought ou r di s c us s i on t o a f oc us on l a ngua ge a s pe r c e pt i on, r a t he r t ha n a r e f l e c t i on of pe r c e pt i on, i t i s i n M e r l e a u P ont y s i nt e r t w i ni ng of t he vi s i bl e a nd t he i nvi s i bl e t ha t w e a r e a bl e t o f i na l l y a r r i ve a t a s a t i s f yi ng r e l a t i ons hi p be t w e e n l a ngua g e a nd e m bodi m e nt D i s a bl e d a ut hor s e xpe r i e nc e l a ngua ge a s pr os t he s i s not a s t he body i n i t s e l f P os s i bi l i t y pl a ys a n e s s e nt i a l r ol e i n t he c ont i nua l e vol ut i on of t he body, a l ong w i t h i t s pr os t he s e s I t i s t he na t u r e of l a ngua ge t o be bot h r e s i s t a nt a nd e xpr e s s i ve t he na t ur e of t he f l e s h t o be r e e m bodyi ng, a nd of vi s i bl e a nd t he i nvi s i bl e t o be a l w a ys on t he ve r ge of c oi nc i de nc e I t f ol l ow s f r o m t hi s r e l a t i on be t w e e n l a ngua ge a nd e m bodi m e nt t ha t de s pi t e B a uby a nd N ol a n s a t t e m pt s t o de s c r i be a t r a ns c e nde nc e of t he i r di s a bl e d bodi e s i n t he i r w r i t i ng, t he pr e s e nc e of t he i r bodi e s unde r l i e s e ve r y s e nt e nc e

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81 Con c l us i o n I n e xpl or i ng t he w or ks o f J or da n S c ot t L a r r y E i gn e r J e a n D om i ni que B a uby, a nd C hr i s t ophe r N ol a n l a ngua ge ha s r e ve a l e d i t s e l f a s a n e m bodi e d pr os t he t i c s e ns e or ga n. A s t he phi l os ophi c a l w o r ks of phe nom e nol ogi s t M a ur i c e M e r l e a u P ont y de s c r i be l a ngua ge i s a l w a ys i n r e l a t i on t o t he body, s uc h t ha t t he t w o a r e i nt e r t w i ne d i n a di a l ogi c r e l a t i ons hi p. L a ngua ge doe s not s e r ve a f unc t i on of di s e m bodi e d s i gni f i c a t i on, a s a n i m m a t e r i a l s ys t e m t ha t r e f e r s t o m a t e r i a l obj e c t s I ns t e a d, l a ngua ge i s a n e m bod i e d m ode o f pe r c e pt i on. I t f ol l ow s t ha t t he di s a bl e d a ut hor c a nnot w r i t e f r o m a di s e m bodi e d p e r s pe c t i ve a s t hough hi s l i ngui s t i c be i ng w e r e a de t a c ha bl e e nt i t y f r om hi s di s a bl e d body. R a t he r t he a ut hor s us e of l a ngua ge be a r s t he i m pr i nt o f t he i r e m bodi m e nt a s t he i nv i s i bl e pr e s e nc e of a s t yl i s t i c uni t y t hr oughout t he i r t e xt T he L a ngua ge poe t s i nt e r e s t i n c om p l i c a t i ng t he r e l a t i ons hi p be t w e e n l a ngua ge a nd s ubj e c t i vi t y f a c i l i t a t e s r e a di ng t he w or k of di s a bl e d a ut hor s a s a pr oduc t of t he i r e m bodi e d r e l a t i ons hi p t o t he w o r l d I n f l ue nc e d by M e r l e a u P ont y t he i r w or k e m pha s i z e s t he i m pos s i bi l i t y of t hough t w i t hout l a ngua ge L a ngua ge i s i ns e pa r a bl e f r om one s be i ng i n t he w or l d F o r t he L a ngua ge poe t s t o us e l a ngua ge i s t o pa r t i c i pa t e i n a s e t o f di s c our s e s t ha t a r e e a c h s pe c i f i c t o a gr oup of pe opl e a nd a pl a c e a nd a r e a l r e a dy w or n i n w i t h m e a ni ng. I n t hi s s e ns e l a ngua ge c a nnot be l ong t o t he a ut hor a nd c a nnot be a t r a ns l a t i on of t he i r e xpe r i e nc e o f t he w or l d. L yn H e j i ni a n s book, M y L i f e r e pr e s e nt s l a n gua ge s c a pa c i t y t o r e nde r a

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82 pe r s ona l e xpe r i e nc e uni ve r s a l l y f a m i l i a r A l ong w i t h t he i na bi l i t y t o t r a ns l a t e e xpe r i e nc e t o l a ngua ge e f f or t s t o w r i t e f r e e l y w i t hout t he he s i t a nc e of t hought a r e t r um pe d by t he f a c t t ha t t o w r i t e i s t o c ons t r uc t W r i t i ng i s not t he e xpr e s s i on of a voi c e i t i s t he c r e a t i on of a voi c e C ha r l e s B e r ns t e i n, a pr ol i f i c a ut ho r a s s oc i a t e d w i t h t he L a ngua ge poe t s s t r e s s e s t he f a c t t ha t l a ngua ge pr e c e de s i de nt i t y, a nd t ha t t o us e l a ngua ge i s t o pe r c e i ve t he w or l d. A ddi t i ona l l y B e r ns t e i n e nc our a ge s t he poe t t o e nga ge a c r i t i c a l r e l a t i ons hi p t o l a ngua ge s uc h t ha t t he i r us e of l a ngua ge i s c ha r a c t e r i z e d by di f f i c ul t y r a t he r t ha n c onve nt i on I n t hi s w a y l a ngua ge a c t s a s a m ode pe r c e pt i on not onl y f or t h e w r i t e r but f or t he r e a de r a s w e l l O nc e l a ngua ge i s de f a m i l i a r i z e d f o r t he r e a de r t he y c a n be ope ne d t o ne w pe r c e pt i ons of t he w o r l d. H ow e ve r w e c a nnot a r r i ve a t a n unde r s t a ndi ng o f t he bodi l y na t ur e of l a ngua ge a s pr os t he s i s s ol e l y t hr ough t he L a ngua g e poe t s M e r l e a u P ont y pr ovi de s a n a c c ount of l a ngua ge t ha t i s i n t e r t w i ne d w i t h t he body, a s oppos e d t o B e r ns t e i n a nd hi s c ol l e a gue s w ho c l a i m t ha t l a ngu a ge pl a ys a m or e t ot a l i z i ng r ol e i n pe r c e pt i on. B e r ns t e i n a r gue s t ha t our pe r c e pt i on i s l i m i t e d t o, but not by, l a ngua ge w hi l e M e r l e a u P ont y pos i t s a n ont ol ogy of t he f l e s h t ha t de f i ne s a n i nt e r t w i ne d r e l a t i ons hi p be t w e e n t he body a nd e xpr e s s i on t ha t i s m a r ke d by pos s i bi l i t y. T hi s i s t o s a y t ha t a s t yl e uni f yi ng t he s ubj e c t c an be bu t i s not l i m i t e d t o, t he l i ngui s t i c F or t he f ou r di s a bl e d a ut hor s t ha t I ha ve d i s c us s e d, t he f l e s h i s t he r e l a t i ons hi p be t w e e n t he t e xt a nd t he bodi e s t h a t a ut hor e d t he m T he i nvi s i bl e pr e s e nc e of t he i r bodi e s o f f e r s c ohe s i on t o t he i r w or k. F ur t he r m o r e S c ot t E i gne r B a uby, a nd N ol a n a r e r e e m bodi e d t hr ou gh t he i r w r i t i ng be c a us e t he i r e m bodi e d

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83 r e l a t i ons hi p t o t he w or l d i s a f f e c t e d by t he i r us e o f l a ngua ge a s pr os t he s i s T he i r r e e m bodi m e nt i s a c ont i nua l pr oc e s s w i t hout t e l o s T hi s c l a i m i s not w i t hout c om pl i c a t i ons M y di s c u s s i on of t he w or ks o f di s a bl e d a ut hor s w a s ba s e d on t he f a c t t ha t I w a s a w a r e of t he i r bi og r a phy. T hi s r e ve a l s a l i nge r i ng t e ns i on i n m y a r gum e nt t ha t a n a ut hor s body i s p r e s e nt t hr oughout t he i r w or k I c a n a s s e r t t ha t E i gne r s c e r e br a l pa l s y a f f e c t s hi s us e o f l a ngua ge be c a us e I kno w t ha t he w a s bo r n w i t h t hi s di s a bi l i t y, a nd t ha t he l i ve d hi s l i f e i n a w he e l c ha i r I c a nnot c l a i m t ha t I w oul d be a bl e t o i de nt i f y hi s c e r e br a l pa l s y ha d I not r e s e a r c he d hi s bi ogr a phi c a l i nf or m a t i on. M e a nw hi l e poe t s of t he B l a c k M ount a i n s c hool w i t h w hi c h E i gne r i s a s s oc i a t e d, e xhi bi t poe t i c l a ngua ge t ha t c l os e l y r e s e m bl e s E i gne r s F or e xa m pl e I us e d t he w or k of poe t W i l l i a m C a r l os W i l l i a m s a gue s t l e c t ur e r a t B l a c k M ount a i n C ol l e ge a nd m e nt or t o C ha r l e s O l s on, t o de m ons t r a t e a c om pa r a bl e i nt e r e s t i n t he i nt e ns e e xpr e s s i on of pe r c e pt i on. E i gne r w a s i n c ont a c t w i t h c ol l e a gue s w hi l e he w a s w r i t i ng hi s ow n poe t r y, a nd hi s w or k be a r s t he i m p r i nt o f t he i r i nf l ue nc e O l s on s e s s a y, P r oj e c t i ve V e r s e a dvoc a t e s f or a n e ne r ge t i c f i e l d of c om pos i t i on i n t he po e m e na bl i ng poe t r y t o e xt e nd be yond i t s f or m t ow a r ds t he w or l d t ha t i t pe r c e i ve s E i gne r w a s i m m e r s e d i n t he w o r ks of O l s on a nd ot he r poe t s of t he B l a c k M ount a i n s c hool a nd hi s poe t r y de m ons t r a t e s O l s on s di r e c t i ve s S c ot t w hos e w or k e xpl i c i t l y r e pr odu c e s hi s s t ut t e r i ng s pe e c h, i s w or k i ng w i t hi n t he t r a di t i on of l yr i c poe t r y t ha t i s i nt e r e s t e d i n r e pr e s e nt i ng t he voi c e of t he po e t T he s e e xa m pl e s of s i m i l a r i t i e s be t w e e n di s a bl e d a nd a bl e bodi e d w r i t e r s de m ons t r a t e t he f a c t t ha t l a ngua ge i s i nhe r e nt l y ub i qui t ous a nd r e pe t i t i ous W r i t e r s w i l l a l w a ys be a r a

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84 r e s e m bl a nc e t o ot he r w r i t e r s w i t hi n t he i r l i t e r a r y t r a di t i on. W hi l e poi nt i ng out l a ngua ge s uni que c a pa c i t y t o s e r ve a s a n i ns t r um e nt of c om m u ni c a t i on w i t h ot he r s M e r l e a u P ont y w r i t e s : T he w or l ds o f B a l z a c a nd S t e ndha l a r e not l i ke pl a ne t s w i t hout c om m uni c a t i on w i t h e a c h ot he r f or s pe e c h i m pl a nt s t he i de a of t r ut h i n us a s t he pr e s um pt i ve l i m i t o f i t s e f f or t I t l os e s s i ght of i t s e l f a s a c ont i nge nt f a c t a nd t a ke s t o r e s t i ng upon i t s e l f ; t hi s i s w ha t p r ovi de s us w i t h t he i de a l of t hought w i t hout w or ds w he r e a s t he i de a of m us i c w i t hout s ounds i s r i di c ul ous ( P P 221) T hi s quot e poi nt s t o t he f a c t t ha t a ut ho r s a r e a l w a y s i m be dde d i n a w o r l d t ha t i s s a t ur a t e d w i t h l a ngua ge a nd c ons e que nt l y, l i t e r a r y t r a d i t i ons A w r i t e r c a nnot us e l a ngua ge t ha t i s de t a c he d f r om t hi s l i t e r a r y w o r l d. H ow e ve r a w r i t e r c a n de f a m i l i a r i z e l a ngua ge s uc h t ha t t he i r r e a de r i s f or c e d t o c onf r ont t he w o r di ne s s of t he t e xt I n t hi s w a y t he w r i t e r c a n r e ve a l l a ngu a ge a s a c ont i nge nt f a c t T he i r us e of l a ngua ge a s a de f a m i l i a r i z a t i on d r a w s a t t e nt i on a w a y f r om t he i m a ge r y or na r r a t i ve i n t he t e xt a nd t ow a r ds t he a ut hor s s t yl e T hi s s t yl e i s e m bodi e d, a nd r e e m bodi e d by t he a ddi t i on of ne w ha bi t s a nd pr os t he s e s M e r l e a u P ont y s l a t e r w or k i n T he V i s i bl e a nd t he I nvi s i bl e e na bl e s t he a r gum e nt t ha t t he body doe s not ha ve t o be vi s i bl e i n or de r t o be pr e s e nt T he a ut ho r s e m bodi m e nt i s e nc om pa s s e d i n t he i r s t yl e a nd not t he i r c ont e nt I n or de r t o de m ons t r a t e t he e l us i ve r e l a t i ons hi p be t w e e n t he v i s i bl e a nd t he i nvi s i bl e I e xpl or e d w or ks a ut hor e d by uni que l y e m bodi e d a u t hor s

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85 A not he r f l e xi bl e a r e a of m y a r gu m e nt i s t he di s t i nc t i on I a r r i ve a t be t w e e n t he pr oj e c t s of t he L a ngua ge poe t s a nd M e r l e a u P o nt y i n m y f i na l c ha pt e r A n a l t e r na t i ve i nt e r pr e t a t i on of t hi s di s t i nc t i on i s o f f e r e d by t he L a ngua ge poe t s i nt e r e s t i n s ound, w hi c h s ugge s t s a n e m bodi e d c onne c t i on be t w e e n l a ngua ge a nd e xpe r i e nc e M e r l e a u P ont y a r gue s t ha t w r i t i ng i s e m bodi e d f or t he r e a de r be c a us e t he y c a n he a r bodi l y r hy t hm s i n t he l a ngua ge I n t h e c ont e xt of hi s di s c us s i on of a nt i a bs or pt i ve poe t r y, B e r ns t e i n poi nt s out t he p ow e r of s ound i t s e l f w hi c h e nc our a ge s t he r e a de r t o f oc us on pa r t i c ul a r a s pe c t s of t he l a ngua ge s uc h a s i t s s oni c qua l i t y ( A P oe t i c s 47) T he r e a de r s f oc us o n s ound c a n be i nt e r p r e t e d a s a bodi l y e nga ge m e nt w i t h t he t e xt A ddi t i ona l l y H e j i ni a n s w or k i s i n t e r e s t e d i n t he m us i c a l i t y of w or ds w hi c h a c t s t o c om pe ns a t e f or t he a bs e nc e of s pe c i f i c i t y i n c ont e nt T he l a ngua ge of M y L i f e de m ons t r a t e s a n i nt e ns e s e ns e of s ound t ha t e voke s i s s ue s of a ur a l i t y i n di s a bl e d a ut hor s w hos e e a r l y r e l a t i ons hi p t o s pe e c h w a s r e s t r i c t e d t o he a r i ng i t T hi s s ound f oc us e d a ppr oa c h t o t he bodi l y i m pl i c a t i ons of L a ngua ge poe t r y m e r i t s f u r t he r r e s e a r c h. A n a ddi t i ona l a r e a f or s t udy t ha t i s ope ne d up by t he r e l a t i ons hi p I ha ve de ve l ope d be t w e e n l a ngua ge a nd e m bodi m e nt i s t h e us e of t e xt i n da nc e M a ny c ont e m por a r y c hor e ogr a phe r s i nc l ude s pe e c h i n t h e i r w or k e i t he r t he da nc e r s s pe a ki ng w hi l e m ovi ng, o r s pe e c h a s a s oundt r a c k f or t he da nc e D a vi d G or don a pr om i ne nt m e m be r of t he pos t m ode r n da nc e m ov e m e nt a nd a f oundi ng a r t i s t i n t he J uds on C hur c h pe r f or m a nc e s w a s a gue s t t e a c he r a t a B i l l T J one s / A r ni e Z a ne C om pa ny w or ks hop t ha t I a t t e nde d t w o ye a r s a go. J one s br ought hi m t o di s c us s hi s i nc or por a t i on of t e xt i n m ove m e nt W h e n I a s ke d hi m w ha t he t hought

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86 t he di s t i nc t i on be t w e e n da nc e e xpr e s s i on a nd l i ngu i s t i c e xpr e s s i on w a s he t ol d m e t ha t he f i r s t s t a r t e d us i ng t e xt i n hi s pi e c e s be c a us e he di d not l i ke t ha t t he na r r a t i ve of a ba l l e t w a s p r i nt e d i n t he p r ogr a m s r a t he r t ha n pr e s e nt on s t a ge H e e xpl a i ne d t ha t t he t e xt c oul d c om m uni c a t e a s t or y i n a w a y t ha t da nc e c a nnot a nd s o r a t he r t ha n p r e s e nt i ng t he da nc e a s s e pa r a bl e f r o m t e xt he w a nt e d t o ut i l i z e l i ngui s t i c e xp r e s s i on i n hi s c hor e ogr a phy M e r l e a u P ont y w oul d a r gue t ha t da nc e a s bodi l y e xpr e s s i on, i s c om m uni c a t i ve of ge s t ur a l m e a ni ng. I nde e d, ge s t i c ul a t i ons a r e a f ounda t i ona l e l e m e nt of m ode r n da nc e I n J one s s w or ks hop, da nc e r s w e r e t a ught a s e r i e s of 108 ge s t ur e s c r e a t i ng a voc a bul a r y of m ove m e nt T o l e a r n t he s e ge s t ur e s w or ds or phr a s e s w e r e us e d s uc h a s i c e c r e a m or c e l l phone T hi s p r om pt e d m y i nt e r e s t i n t he o r i gi n o f e xpr e s s i on w he t he r i t w a s f i r s t m ove m e nt t o w hi c h l a ngua ge w a s a t t a c he d a s a m ne m oni c de vi c e or w he t he r i t w a s l a ngua ge t ha t i ns pi r e d ge s t ur e A not he r i nt e r e s t i ng i s s ue e m a na t i ng f r om t he c onve r ge nc e of da nc e a nd t e xt i s how m ove m e nt c oul d be c hor e og r a phe d t o t e xt ( i n t he pl a c e of a m us i c a l c om pos i t i on) T hi s e nde a vor ha s t w o pos s i bi l i t i e s : m ove m e nt c oul d c or r e s pond t o t he s ound of l a ngua ge a s w e l l a s t he t one a nd e m pha s i s t ha t t he s pe a ke r us e s or t he m ove m e nt c oul d a t t e m pt t o r e pr e s e nt t he c ont e nt of t he t e xt ( a c t i ng i t out a s c a n be e n s e e n i n na r r a t i ve ba l l e t s ) W i t hi n t he s e pos s i bi l i t i e s t he r e e xi s t s t he opt i on o f i nc ong r ue nc e w he r e t he da nc e i s pr e s e nt e d i n oppos i t i on t o t he t e xt T hi s opt i on r a i s e s f ur t he r i s s ue s r e ga r di ng t he a udi e nc e s r e c e pt i on. P e r ha ps t he a udi e nc e w i l l l a t c h on t o t he t e xt a s i t i s m o r e r e a di l y a c c e s s i b l e a s a f a m i l i a r s ys t e m of s i gni f i e r s I n t hi s c a s e t he da nc e w oul d s e e m t o

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87 be i n oppos i t i on t o t he t e xt r a t he r t ha n t he ot he r w a y a r ound. A l t e r na t i ve l y, i f l a ngua ge a ppe a r s t o be s e c onda r y t o t he m ove m e nt t hi s c oul d be i nt e r p r e t e d a s e vi de nc e of a pr i m a c y of bodi l y e xc ha nge be t w e e n t he bodi e s on s t a ge a nd t hos e i n t he s e a t s T he e xpe c t a t i ons w i t h w hi c h a n a udi e nc e m e m be r e nt e r s a da nc e pe r f or m a nc e m a y f ur t he r i nt r oduc e a m or e nua nc e d s e t of que s t i ons I n s hor t i nqui r i e s r a i s e d by a m e e t i ng of da nc e a nd t e xt pr o duc e a n e nor m ous s uppl y of pos s i bl e pr oj e c t s t ha t I hope t o t a ke up i n m y f ut ur e s t udi e s

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88 Bi b l i ogr a ph y A ndr e w s B r uc e a nd C ha r l e s B e r ns t e i n, e ds T he L = A = N = G = U = A = G = E B ook S out he r n I l l i noi s U P 1984. B a uby, J e a n D om i ni que T he D i vi ng B e l l a nd t he B ut t e r f l y A M e m oi r of L i f e i n D e a t h N e w Y or k: V i nt a ge 1998 B e r ns t e i n, C ha r l e s A P oe t i c s H a r va r d U P 1992. B e r ns t e i n, C ha r l e s L a ngua ge S a m pl e r E d C ha r l e s B e r ns t e i n. P a r i s R e vi e w ( 1982) C hr i s t ophe r N ol a n, U nde r t he e ye o f t he c l oc k t he l i f e s t or y of C hr i s t ophe r N ol a n N e w Y or k N Y : D e l l P ub. 1989 D r unke n B oa t | 8 | 2006 E di t i on D r unke n B oa t | 2008 19 A pr 2009 < ht t p: / / w w w dr unke nboa t c om / db8/ c a na da poe t r y/ s c ot t / > E i gne r L a r r y. A i r t he t r e e s B l a c k S pa r r ow 1969 E i gne r L a r r y. F r om t he S us t a i ni ng A i r E uge ne : T oa d P 1967. E i gne r L a r r y. W i ndow s / W a l l s / Y a r d/ W a ys B l a c k S pa r r ow 1994. E i gne r : L e t t e r t o I na F or s t e r U ni ve r s i t y a t B uf f a l o W i ngs C e nt r a l C a m pus W e b S e r ve r 19 A pr 2009 < ht t p: / / w i ngs buf f a l o e d u/ e pc / e z i ne s / pa s s a ge s / pa s s a ge s 5/ f or s t e r ht m l > F r i e s K e nny. S t a r i ng B a c k T he D i s a bi l i t y E xpe r i e nc e f r om t he I ns i de O ut N e w Y or k: P l um e 1997 G ur e vi t c h, Z a l i T he T ongue 's B r e a k D a nc e : T he o r y, P oe t r y, a nd t he C r i t i c a l B ody. S oc i ol ogi c a l Q ua r t e r l y 4 0 ( 2005) : 525 42 H e j i ni a n, L yn M y L i f e L os A nge l e s : S un & M oon P 1987. L e vi n, H e nr y T J a m e s J oyc e : a c r i t i c a l i nt r oduc t i o n N e w D i r e c t i ons C or po r a t i on, 1960. M e r l e a u P ont y, M a ur i c e P he nom e nol ogy of P e r c e pt i on ( R out l e dge C l a s s i c s ) N e w Y or k: R ou t l e dge 2 002.

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89 M e r l e a u P ont y, M a ur i c e S i gns T r a ns R i c ha r d C M c C l e a r y. N or t hw e s t e r n U P 1964. M e r l e a u P ont y, M a ur i c e T he V i s i bl e a nd t he I nvi s i bl e N or t hw e s t e r n U P 1969. M i c ha e l D a vi ds on, C onc e r t o f or t he l e f t ha nd di s a bi l i t y a nd t he de f a m i l i a r body A nn A r bor : U ni ve r s i t y of M i c hi ga n P 2008 N ol a n, C hr i s t ophe r D a m B ur s t of D r e a m s O hi o U P 1988 O l s on, C ha r l e s A C ha r l e s O l s on R e a de r : N e w Y o r k: C a r c a ne t P 2005. P e r l of f M a r j or i e T he D a nc e of t he I n t e l l e c t 1s t e d. N or t hw e s t e r n U P 19 96. S c ot t J or da n. B l e r t C oa c h H ous e B ooks 2008. S t ol l e r S i l vi a R e f l e c t i ons on F e m i ni s t M e r l e a u P ont y S ke pt i c i s m H ypa t i a 15 ( 2000) : 175 82. S ul l i va n, S ha nnon. F e m i ni s m a nd P he nom e nol og y: A R e pl y t o S i l vi a S t ol l e r H ypa t i a 15 ( 2000) : 183 88 W i l l i a m s W i l l i a m C a r l os A W a l t on L i t z a nd C h r i s t ophe r M a c G ow a n. T he C ol l e c t e d P oe m s of W i l l i a m C a r l os W i l l i a m s V ol 1 1909 1939 G r a nd R a pi ds : N e w D i r e c t i ons C or por a t i on, 1991.