G

Klara du Plessis and Khashayar "Kess" Mohammadi

is a sound. Phonetically, it is represented as [χ]—and corresponds to خ 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.

G

Klara du Plessis and Khashayar "Kess" Mohammadi

l

Palimpsest Press

Trade Paperback: $21.95

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