“Language of Touch” explores how literature uses tactile sensation to convey emotions, relationships, and philosophical ideas. Often overshadowed by sight and sound, touch is a key way we understand ourselves and the world. The book examines how authors use language to evoke the feeling of touch, known as haptic representation, for readers.
It considers the cultural and historical contexts surrounding touch, including how social norms and power dynamics influence tactile interactions in literature. The book argues that literary depictions of touch are powerful tools for meaning-making, challenging conventional perceptions and revealing deeper truths.
Touch in literature shapes identity, negotiates social hierarchies, and expresses trauma. By drawing on sensory psychology, cultural history, and disability studies, the book connects literature to other fields.
Beginning with theoretical frameworks from phenomenology and psychoanalysis, the book analyzes literary texts, from classic novels to contemporary poetry, with each chapter focusing on a particular aspect of touch. “Language of Touch” concludes by considering how emerging technologies and evolving attitudes may influence the representation of tactile experience in the future, enriching our understanding of literary expression.
