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Language

The language of Finnegans Wake is Joyce's most radical innovation. Understanding how it works transforms the reading experience.

Basic Principles​

English as Base​

Despite appearances, English is the foundation. Most sentences follow English syntax. Most words have English roots. The additions and transformations overlay this base.

Multilingual Punning​

Joyce blends 60+ languages, creating words that mean multiple things simultaneously:

Example: "chaosmos" (page 118)

  • chaos + cosmos
  • The universe as beautiful disorder
  • Order emerging from chaos

Example: "bababadalgharaghtakamminarronnkonnbronntonnerronntuonnthunntrovarrhounawnskawntoohoohoordenenthurnuk" (page 3)

  • Thunder in multiple languages
  • Marks Vico's thunder that began civilization
  • 100 letters (there are 10 thunderwords totaling 1001 letters)

Dream Logic​

Words transform as in dreams:

  • Names shift: HCE becomes "Here Comes Everybody," "Haveth Childers Everywhere," "Howth Castle and Environs"
  • Languages blur: the dreamer doesn't distinguish tongues
  • Meanings layer: every word carries multiple associations

Word Formation Techniques​

Portmanteau Words​

Two or more words combined:

WordComponentsMeaning
funferallfun + funeralThe fun of a funeral (Irish wake)
bisexyclebisexual + bicycleThe cycling of sexual identity
collideorscapecollide + kaleidoscopeCollision of images
meandertalemeander + taleWandering story

Multilingual Puns​

WordLanguagesMeanings
shemblableShem + Fr. semblableShem-like, similar
venissoonVenice + Fr. venison + soonComing soon like deer
tolvtubulartwelve + tub + tubularTV/radio (twelve tubes)

Embedded Names​

Words contain hidden proper nouns:

  • "heliotropically" contains "Eli" and "trope"
  • "Dyoublong" = "Do you belong?" + "Dublin"
  • "doublends" = "double ends" + "Dublin" (phonetically)

Sound Patterns​

Alliteration, assonance, and rhythm guide meaning:

"Soft morning, city! Lsp! I am leafy speafing."

The sounds create meaning beyond the words.

Reading Strategies for Language​

1. Read Aloud​

Many words become clear when pronounced:

  • "Usqueadbaugham" = "uisce beatha" (Irish: whiskey) + Abraham
  • "Comes the question are these the facts" = "Comes the question: are these the fácts?"

2. Irish English Pronunciation​

Joyce's Dublin accent is embedded:

  • "th" becomes "t" or "d"
  • Vowels shift
  • Rhythm is Irish

3. Sound Out Foreign Words​

Joyce phoneticized foreign languages:

  • "O foenix culprit!" = "O felix culpa!" (Latin: fortunate fall)
  • "Cog it out" = "cogito" (Latin: I think)

4. Look for English Base​

Under the distortion, find the English:

  • "What clashes here of wills gen wonts" = "What clashes here of wills against wants"

Language Families in the Wake​

Most Common​

  • English (base language)
  • Irish/Gaelic (especially names, phrases)
  • Latin (liturgical, classical)
  • French (literary, courtly)
  • German (philosophical, compound words)
  • Italian (musical, operatic)

Also Present​

  • Norwegian, Danish, Swedish
  • Dutch, Flemish
  • Spanish, Portuguese
  • Greek (classical)
  • Hebrew
  • Sanskrit
  • Japanese, Chinese
  • Russian
  • And dozens more...

The Sigla​

Joyce used symbols (sigla) to represent characters in his notes:

SiglaCharacterLooks Like
⊓HCEMountain/gate
∆ALPTriangle/delta
⌐ShemHalf-square (reversed for Shaun)
⊣IssyDifferent orientation
XFour old menCross/four points

These appear in the text and help track characters.

Recurring Words and Motifs​

Certain words recur with accumulated meaning:

WordSignificance
riverrunOpening word; river running; rerun
phoenixResurrection; Phoenix Park
hundredHCE's initials are numbers (H=100)
thousandCompleteness, ALP
meanderthalltaleThe whole meandering tale

Resources for Language​

Online​

  • FWEET — 101,670+ word-level annotations
  • Finwake.com — Tooltip explanations

Print​

  • McHugh's Annotations — Line-by-line glosses
  • O Hehir's Gaelic Lexicon — Irish language
  • Hart's Concordance — Word index

See Also​