Language and Creativity explores the creativity inherent in everyday spoken language.

Creativity in language has conventionally been regarded as the preserve of institutionalized discourses such as canonical literature and the discourse of advertising. In Language and Creativity Ronald Carter analyzes naturally-occurring spoken language to reveal that ordinary people in everyday speech contexts demonstrate creative capacities for sensitivity to their contexts. Illustrated with examples, and integrating current theory in both language and literature studies, the book underlines the importance of the creative choice, automaticity and repetition which is involved in informal communication.