Linguistic Creativity at Different Levels of Decision in Sentence Production

The shape taken by linguistic creativity at the different levels of decision involved in sentence production (phonetics, rhythm, lexical choice, semantics, syntax and narrative content) is explored in relation to existing computational models of creativity. A general outline of the possibilities is given for each level, and two specific levels word invention at the lexical level, illustrated by the Jabberwocky poem by Lewis Carroll; and poetic metaphor at the semantic level, illustrated by examples from verses by Garcia Lorca are studied in further detail. The applicability of the existing computational models is discussed in connection to the kind of creativity apparent in the examples.