Experiments in Style: the naming of parts
Experiments in Style: the naming of parts
... of speech, that is
One of the things I’ve been trying out is reworking a piece of text into a completely different style. A full exposition and explanation are given here:
In today’s experiment I’d like to tell the story in the original style, but with the different parts of speech colour-coded. First, though, here is the original text on which these experiments or transformations are based:
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The original (template) text
In the middle of the night, I woke up (if you can call being semi-conscious being awake), walked purposefully towards the door to go to the bathroom — and almost knocked myself out.
The reason was that in the twin states of entire darkness and semi-somnambulance I was facing in a different direction from the one I thought I was facing. As a result, instead of walking through the door, I tried to walk through the wall.
The next few days brought nausea and headaches. After much prevarication I went to Accident and Emergency, where I waited petrified among people for whom “social distancing” means not quite touching you, and who wore their masks as a chin-warmer.
An hour and a half later I emerged into the twilight, secure in the knowledge that I had nothing more serious than mild concussion. I failed to do much writing, but I was pleased to have read a further 17% of my book.
The story with the parts of speech colour-coded
Here’s something to think about. Does having the different kinds of words enhance the experience or detract from it?
On Friday I will be explaining how I created this version. That will be a paid subscribers’ post, but I’ll include a 7 day free trial option.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on today’s version.
For more experiments, please see the index. Paid subscribers also get behind the scenes information about some of these experiments.
Super interesting experiment, Terry. Personally, my eyes don't cope with parsing the verbal information when seeing so many colours. I'd be interested in seeing variations where you only colour e.g. verbs or nouns.
Curious to hear of your (assume automated) approach to this.
I really like this - I love parts of speech, etc. and to highlight them just added a cadence. Have to say, my first thought when I read the title was the Henry Reed poem. Which my 11th grade English teacher loved - primarily because of its extended double entendre!