Emotional Resonance Through Language: Critiquing And Evaluating The Experimental Techniques In The Works Of George Saunders

Abstract

George Saunders is popularly known for his unique narrative approach and exploration of contemporary societal issues. He is probing the natural world in a fictional style. He is extensively favored for language-related trends in his works which include; a distinctive narrative voice characterized by dark humor, satire, and a blend of formal and colloquial language, and these methods Saunders are undeniable. The paper examines and critiques Saunders’ experiments with language and form. He has employed unconventional syntax, created new words or phrases, and the way he used the repetition of rhetorical effect. The themes in his stories are particularly dystopian yet authentic, the fatal deaths and the fantasy world that creates a ditch for the people who live in the imaginary land. It studies the new trends in the techniques that contributed to the distinctive style of his prose. Examining his debut novel Lincoln in the Bardo to his latest work Liberation Day, he portrays characters from various backgrounds and socioeconomic strata which requires him to capture the nuances of different linguistic registers that can range from the polished language of corporate jargon to the congenial speech of a common-man, satirical language and social commentary are some of his exclusivity. Saunders often uses fracturing narratives depicting divergent perspectives or periods in a non-linear fashion which might involve shifts in tense, point of view, and distance narratives that help convey distinctive layers of the story. Moreover, the slang in almost every text sometimes flabbergasts the readers yet gains appraisal and recognition.