ABSTRACT
Through evolution, the human vocal tract has become able to give voice to a variety of particular sounds and complex combinations of sounds. With these we have created languages which can communicate information of very different kinds and to a very high degree of subtlety. As we acquire them as children we respond to the sounds themselves as we hear, imitate and relish them. Just as we learn how effectively word sounds denote objects in our world and carry information to others, so too we enjoy the reiteration of the sounds themselves in the repetition of favourite new words, and variations upon them. As Kenneth Koch (1925-2002) writes, ‘Each word has a little music of its own.’ The sounds of language are further enjoyed when they are combined in such sequences as a run of the same consonants (alliteration,) or the repetition of certain words or rhythmic patterns. The lines above from Gertrude Stein’s (1874-1946) ‘Before the Flowers of Friendship Faded Friendship Faded’ show this kind of fascination-as does the title of the poem itself. The intrigue can extend to the surprising juxtaposition of word meanings. Stein called her book Tender Buttons. Ponder for a moment what associations come with putting the words ‘tender’ and ‘button’ next to each other.
