Create
"a personal language, a language bearing (their) signature."
The sentence is from Edmond de Goncourt, who writes it in his name and that of his brother, in the preface to
Chérie
(1884).
The number of words and expressions inherited from their inventiveness is substantial.
The two brothers free themselves from dictionaries and syntax rules, to give free rein to their creativity.
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Far from wanting to
"regulate the vocabulary"
, a process which they reproach the French Academy, Edmond and Jules de Goncourt play with the French language and invent new words. They then create what will be called an
"artist's writing"
, a
"language within the language, inacadémie ..., reforged, enriched, recreating the grammar, making the law of its need",
as Pierre Bourdat notes in his article
"Neologisms in the work of Goncourt"
. We thus encounter in their work tasty formulas (
“nideuse eyelids”
), comical words (
“chattering”
), and unusual (
“catholice”
).
Will you find these neologisms which have remained in use and those which have been forgotten?
The editorial team invites you to find out in a short test.
Will you get 10/10?