The Language of The Road
Cormac McCarthy's The Road is definitely an experience. Unique in both story and style, The Road holds your attention from start to finish with its haunting scenery, suspense, and human relationships—to others as well as God—after the apocalypse.
But one thing that really caught my attention was the language of The Road. The narration is mixed with unpunctuated conversation and peppered with words that I've either never heard before, or words I know which are used really well. I'm new to this old(er) book, so I know none of this is news to Cormac McCarthy's faithful readers. But if you're looking for a sign to read The Road, you're welcome to make this post that sign.
The Language of The Road
Gryke (n.) - a solution fissure, a vertical crack up to 0.5 m wide formed by the dissolving of limestone by water, that divides an exposed limestone surface into sections or clints (Collins Dictionary)
A place to hide, for the man to cough and ask God if He's there.
Chifforobe (n.) - a wardrobe with drawers or shelves on one side.
I work with interior designers and furniture retailers as a day-job, but I've never heard of a chifforobe.
Palimpsest (n.) - something having usually diverse layers or aspects apparent beneath the surface.
Sectarian (adj.) - resulting from the differences between different religions.
As in "Like failed sectarian suicides."
Escarpment (n.) - a wide, steep slope on a hill or mountain.
Something to cling to.
Mendicant (adj.) - practicing beggary : engaged in begging.
Isocline (n.) - an anticline or syncline so closely folded that the rock beds of the two sides have the same dip.
Combined Words
There were also combined words that worked to sort of change the cadence of everything. It gave the impression that the man and boy had created their own language in the years since the fall of everything. Words like scablands, riprap, pipebowl, bloodcults, bogfolk, sootfall, roofingtin, truckgarden, woodlot, candlecolored, and saltbleached, were used to describe the people and places of this new and unforgiving world.
All of this adds to the flavor of the book. It sets it apart in your memory and sets a tone—as if that world is not like this one, though related by some bloodline of forgotten relationship.
Honorable Mentions
Creedless
Litany
Obsidian
Matrix
Runic
Implacable
Enkindle
Verdigris
Ensepulchred
Happy reading!
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