Making Telling

Question

Good writers are never ponderous;they know what it means to take some pleasure in choosing apt words and making telling associations of meaning and sound.This is to say,quite simply, that all language is poetic.

(1) What is the meaning of 'making telling' in this sentene? Does the sentence miss a conjunction (and) between 'making' and 'telling?

(2) What are the grammatical functions of these two words?

(3) In the second sentence, why didn't the author say 'all languages are poetic'?

(4) Instead of 'all language is poetic' , shall we say 'every language is poetic'?

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

"telling" is an adjective.

Main Entry: tell·ing
Pronunciation: 'te-li[ng]
Function: adjective
: carrying great weight and producing a marked effect : EFFECTIVE, EXPRESSIVE <the most telling evidence>

Rishonly · Answer

Thanks CalifJim. Your explanation answers the questions (1) and (2). Could you get a chance to see questions (3) and (4)?

CalifJim · Answer

In this passage, "language" does not mean a specific system of communication like English, Hindi, Spanish, Arabic, etc. "language" has a different definition here, having to do with the ability of all human beings to communicate through some system of sounds and writing.

So "language" here means something more abstract. It is like saying "the use of language (any specific language) as a means of communicating".

"All language is poetic" then means "Any use of any language is poetic" or "One is poetic simply by using his linguistic ability to communicate (in any language)".

CJ

Rishonly · Answer

Thanks again, CalifJim.

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