Interesting Language

Although only two chapters into this novel, there is much to write about. Burgess wastes no time in throwing the reader right into the action. I have already read in vivid detail of several brutal beatings and gruesome rape. Burgess does a great job of hurling his reader directly into the lives of Alex and his three droogs. Perhaps the most interesting element of this novel thus far however, even more so than the instant violence, is the language. The book is well written but the english pros are frequently interrupted with Alex's gang's slang, Nadsat. Defined as an invented language influenced by Russian, German, English, and slang, it flows perfectly in the novel. While some of my classmates have criticized Burgess for creating his own words because it makes it impossible to read and understand, I think there is a need for Nadsat in A Clockwork Orange. The language flows nicely within the pros and Burgess provides us with enough context clues to determine what his made up words mean. Nadsat is an effective way of bringing the reader into the lives of Alex and his gang. To get a feel for the Nadsat language, what kind of words are used and their translation, you can visit this interpreter.