Stylistic features of Holden Caulfield's language in J. D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye: a corpus-based study

Drawing on corpus stylistics techniques, this paper argues that quantitative approaches, quite frequently ignored in the realm of literature, potentially generate new insights which could possibly substantiate literary interpretations. Such an interdisciplinary method creates a more objective framework to empirically analyse aesthetic dimensions of a given text. Using Wmatrix, an online software developed by Paul Rayson, this paper seeks to examine stylistic features in J. D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye with the aim of decoding its main thematic motifs and the characterisation of Holden Caulfield, the central character. The protagonist's idiosyncratic use of language, which represents his supposedly rebellious individuality in a transitory stage of his life, plays a crucial part in delineating his role in the novel. Keyword, sematic prosody and clusters are singled out to decode the ideology behind Holden's mode of speech. The study also highlights the importance of context and co-text in dealing more effectively and realistically with the quantitative data thus obtained.