Nadsat and Understanding A Clockwork Orange

[RedPandaMan]

*Disclaimer* I have tried searching, but my weak search bar skills did not lead me to come up with a thread like this, so please forgive me if there is one *Disclaimer*

Well, I just finished reading A Clockwork Orange, and enjoyed it. However, the thing that drew me into it was the language used by the teenagers in book, Nadsat. It is a Russian-influenced English, and was unique to the book. I found it difficult to read, but when you understood it, it helped you immerse yourself in the book.

However, while reading, I had a dilemma as to whether to use the dictionary in the back or not to translate the words. I tried to refrain from using it as much as possible, yet I did a few times, and it seemed to detract from the mystique the book was trying to put out. And this left me thinking: was using the dictionary a good idea?

So my question to you Escapists is: Does using the dictionary to understand a language in a book detract from immersing yourself in the culture and the point of using the language in the first place? And do you believe Nadsat had a profound effect on the book and would not have the same message without it?

 

[ExodusinFlames]

I agree, there are a few points in that book specifically where you're ok for it. While it does pull you out of the immersion a little it helps you get a better understanding of what is actually going on in it.

 

[SniperWolf427]

I love the fact that he used it, however, that doesn't make it any less of a pain in the ass to read.

If you want to fully understand the book, use the dictionary. If you just want to soak in the story, then don't.

I have yet to finish that book...

I'm so lazy.

 

[WrongSprite]

Ahh, I'd love to read that book, everyone recommends it. I think a dictionary can be necessary to understand the full meaning, if you need it.

Off topic: I've held a red panda (just thought I'd bring that up 'cause of your name)

 

[Lord George]

I read it through the first time without using the dictionary, it was fun trying to imagine what particular words meant. It also as you said immerse you more into the books background.

Nadsat is also a fundamental part of the book, it shows us Alex's alienation from the adult world and responsibility which that brings, also it allows us to see an innate insecurity in many of the younger characters as many of the Nadsat words are quite baybish in nature almost like child rhyming slang. The assimilation of Russian and Cockney rhyming slang also allows us as the reader to remain unbiased towards the character Alex as we can't try and see what kind of person he is through the way he speaks as we have nothing to compare it to.

I could go on I did my entire English A level essay on it.

 

[Lullabye]

artemis fowl anyone? that random fairy language at the bottom of every page that i thought was just random crap was actually a book of its own! i like that they came out with a book completely dedicated to explaining the characters in teh book and the decoding the language. thats what they shoulda done with orange.
but as for using the dictionary in teh back? well, if there is a part that is reallly confusing then yes, use it.otherwise, i see no reason to.

 

[cleverlymadeup]

well i read the book, without the dictionary at the back, i didn't find it hard to figure out what the words meant. he did kinda describe what they were doing so the words weren't that hard to figure out. the only one i had a bit of an issue with was "real horrorshow" but i did figure it out.

i think it depends on how good your reading and comprehension is, ie if you can actually figure out what something means by reading it. sadly too many people don't have that basic skill or the ability to do that. i've found a lot of people don't understand the words they are speaking and just make up the definitions for them

as for the importance of it in the book, i think it is needed for you to connect to Alex and see things through his eyes and understand what is happening to him. if you were told from the third person, i think the book would have lost something and the breaking of the fourth wall was also instrumental and needed

 

[felltablet]

Yeah, pseudo-dictionary usage all the way.
Knowing the meaning of what the characters were saying didn't detract from the book at all.
I still found the dialect just as interesting.