Skip to main content

Part of the book series: Bernard Shaw and His Contemporaries ((BSC))

  • 89 Accesses

Abstract

According to Jacques Derrida, “Language has never been simply one problem among many.” The characters in Pygmalion and Major Barbara grapple with several important language problems that are discussed in this chapter. Higgins and Eliza struggle with the question of who owns language, for example. Other topics in this chapter include the classification function of language, Plato’s ideas about language, and the competing components that complicate the task of interpreting a text.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Reynolds, J. (2022). Competing Components. In: Language and Metadrama in Major Barbara and Pygmalion. Bernard Shaw and His Contemporaries. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-96071-1_9

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics