alanis analysis
Alanis Morrisette Song Analysis | Andy Boon | February 22nd, 2001
I am analysing the lyrics of an Alanis Morrisette song for a TDA assignment. In the line
"Isn't it ironic- don't you think?"
What does IT refer to?
Michael Swan states that IT is an empty subject and is meaningless. For example, "Isn't it a lovely day!" However, surely the text processor imposes a meaning on IT other than as meaningless.
If you are familiar with the song "IRONIC", I would argue that IT has exophoric reference to LIFE or EXISTENCE as being Ironic. What does anyone think?
All opinions are welcome.
Andy in Japan!!!!!
Re: Alanis Morrisette Song Analysis | Lori Solbakken | February 22nd, 2001
Andy,
You've made me pull out that old CD which I hadn't listened to for years! It's still a good song, I reckon.
I would think IT means fate, or a turn of events. In the first stanza she lists a few things that imply that fate had some intervention:
Old man turned 98, won lottery, died next day.
Like, he lived up to the ripe old age of 98 - fate. And then, wins the lottery- fate. And then croaks- fate.
The irony of fate is what I believe.
Existence and fate may be intertwined, but the whole song tells me that fate plays a special feature in our lives, and the irony she means, is just that.
Of course, living in China for so very, very long, one becomes a bit tuned into this concept...
Read her last three lines:
Life has a funny way of sneaking up on you
Life has a funny funny way of
helping you out
Helping you out.
Best,
Lori
Re: Alanis Morrisette Song Analysis | Tom Bloor | March 4th, 2001
Andy,
I can't believe that Swan or any other grammarian would suggest that "it" is always an empty subject. All grammars have to accept the obvious fact that "it" often (usually?) refers to some entity mentioned in the same text or in the immediate context. There are two obvious "empty" uses of "it":
1 discontinuous subject where "it" stands in temporarily for an extraposed clause (e.g. "it is obvious that the world is flat" = "that the world is flat is obvious")
2 subject in a clause about meteorological and related conditions: "it is raining", "it is hot", etc.
I am not familiar with your text (the Alanis Morrisette song). If there isn't an extraposed clause embedded in the same clause, it seems most likely that there is something else in the text that the "it" refers to (endophorically). I think you are right that it could not be comparable to "it" in comments on the weather. It does not seem very likely that "it" could be exophoric here though I think I see what you mean - as in "isn't it all a mess!" (Where "it" means e.g. life, the current situation, etc). However, without the co-text, it is impossible to be sure - and, since lyrics are often deliberately vague or ambiguous, it may be impossible anyway.
Best
Tom Bloor
PS I have just looked up "it" in Swan's Practical English Usage (2 nd edit OUP 1995), and, in his preoccupation with empty "it", he does almost appear to omit the most obvious use of "it" (the referential). This might account for your comment. This has to be an oversight, though, rather than a reflection of his view on the range of usage of "it". In fact, though, he just escapes total condemnation because "it, they and them" are mentioned in the list of personal pronouns on p. 430 as "used to refer to things as well as people". (Sloppily expressed even there, though).
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