G

by Klara du Plessis, Khashayar "Kess" Mohammadi

G is a sound. Phonetically, it is represented as [?]—and corresponds to ? in the Arabic alphabet—a guttural resonance shared between Afrikaans and Persian. Hinging on this mutual fricative sonically prominent in their respective languages, and a playful inclusion of homonyms across English, Afrikaans, and Persian, Klara du Plessis and Khashayar “Kess” Mohammadi composed G collaboratively in a shared Google document, an act of hospitality into their languages. Amplifying common etymologies, but centering communication beyond the delimitation of verbal systems, this work stages a conceptual project of human interconnection through the metaphors of tongue, speech, and poetry as sound. G builds on both poets? earlier translingual and translation work, including du Plessis? award-winning Ekke and Mohammadi’s Me, You, Then Snow .

80 pages, Paperback

Published September 16, 2023

Reviews

[K.R. Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

G consists of linked poems marbled with—and sometimes wholly consisting of—elegant multilingual word-play, sound-play, meaning-play; language intricately, joyfully languaging itself. Finishing with a set of transcribed orally composed pieces that are practically tactile.