Creativity in language has conventionally been regarded as the preserve of institutionalised discourses such as literature and advertising, and individual gifted minds. Drawing on a range of real examples of everyday conversations and speech, from flatmates in a student house and families on holiday to psychotherapy sessions and chat-lines, the book argues that creativity is an all-pervasive feature of everyday language. In this groundbreaking book, Ronald Carter builds on the previous theories of creativity, and offers a radical contribution to linguistic, literary and cultural theory. A must for anyone interested in the creativity of our everyday speech.

Preface
Introduction

Part I: Backgrounds and theories
1 Approaches to creativity
2 Lines and clines: linguistic approaches

Part II: Forms and Functions
3 Creativity and patterns of talk
4 Figures of speech

Part III: Contexts and variations
5 Creativity, language and social context
6 Creativity, discourse and social practice

Ronald Carter is Research Professor of Modern English Language in the School of English at the University of Nottingham, UK. He is the series co-editor of the Routledge Applied Linguistics and Routledge Introductions to Applied Linguistics series. His recent books include: How to Analyse Texts (Routledge, 2016), Spoken Corpus Linguistics (Routledge, 2013) and Vocabulary (reissued as a Routledge Linguistics Classic, 2012).