Quote by Victor Hugo
Nothing can be more depressing than to expose, naked to the light of thought, the hideous growth of argot. Indeed it is like a sort of repellent animal intended to dwell in darkness which has been dragged out of its cloaca. One seems to see a horned and living creature viciously struggling to be restored to the place where it belongs. One word is like a claw, another like a sightless and bleeding eye; and there are phrases which clutch like the pincers of a crab. And all of it is alive with the hideous vitality of things that have organized themselves amid disorganization.
Summary
This quote suggests that the use of slang and unconventional language, known as argot, is both depressing and repulsive. The metaphor used likens argot to a grotesque creature desperate to return to its dark dwelling. Each word is compared to a claw or a bleeding eye, conveying the discomfort and grotesqueness associated with this language. The overall impression is that argot possesses a disturbing vitality that has emerged from chaos and disorder, presenting it as something to be shunned and avoided.
Topics
Language
By Victor Hugo
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