To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time Group

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slazzy
slazzy
Student
College - Freshman

How is the language of literature different from the language of science?

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Posted by slazzy on Friday May 25, 2007 at 8:36 AM and tagged with hamlet, to the virgins, to make much of time.

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  1. merehughes Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    One difference between the language in fiction and science is that science would more likely use a specific kind of vocabulary that might not be known to the average reader.

    Another difference is that the language used in fiction is often full of 'literary devices' such as figurative language (alliteration, personification for example) and might use irony or sarcasm. An article written for science would not use figurative language or other rhetorical devices.

    Finally, a difference would be that papers written for a science publication are usually written in the passive tense and in third person. It is objective. A work of fiction can be either in first, second (rare) or third person and usually active and may be subjective.

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    Posted by merehughes on Friday May 25, 2007 at 10:00 AM


  2. blacksheepunite Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Scientific language tends to use predominantly the agentless passive voice while literary language tends to use more active voice. If you are writing a science report, the emphasis is on the action rather than the agent (or actor).

    For example: The cup was broken (says what happened but doesn't say who did it). In order to get the agent of the action into the sentence, you must include the information in a prepositional phrase.
    or: David broke the cup (tells immediately who performed the act).

    The distinction is important because each discipline favours language that fits with their values. In writing about literature, we use the active voice because the characters or the agents of an act are as important as the act itself. In writing about science, we wish to eliminate the agents because the action and not the scientist or the agent is what is really important.

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    Posted by blacksheepunite on Saturday May 26, 2007 at 1:33 PM