Abstract

The debate between the Better and the Worse Argument, between the old and the new education, in Aristophanes’ Clouds, is a scene full of caustic humour and exquisite irony. In this paper we will try to provide a detailed analysis of the linguistic features that characterize these two characters, in order to confront how two clearly opposite linguistic registers are outlined, in line with their confrontation of ideas. In general terms, the Better Argument exhibits a stronger conversational tone than his adversary, a greater inclination to the use of asyndeton in his syntax, more vulgar and abusive terms, a virtual absence of both poetic and paratragic words and certain linguistic innovations and variants of a lesser literary quality. In contrast, the Worse Argument does just the opposite.