The Old and New; The Vernacular and the Classical

I think one of the recurring themes of the different readings, from Haikai poetry, Basho’s poetry and prose, to Machi Tawara’s “Salad Phenomenon,” is the interaction and tension between the vernacular and classical, or more simply, those between the old and new. I think the example,

Princess Saho

with the coming of spring

stands pissing

is a great one because the interaction and tension are present thematically and in the language. For instance, instead of “pissing,” “peeing” or “tinkling” could have been chosen but likely because the former is more vulgar and therefore heightens that tension, it is used to be juxtaposed against "Princess" and "the coming of spring." I’m currently translating a work in which the narrator vacillates between vernacular and classical in her language and would be interested to work through some examples of word choice and syntax construction when mixing the old and new/vernacular and classical.

- Lois