Why does Finnegans Wake use puns, invented words, and many languages?

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James Joyce wearing a dark suit, light tie, round glasses, and a hat, looking to the side outdoors in Zurich, Switzerland. — James Joyce Irish writer James Joyce.

James Joyce utilized a complex, polyglot idiom in Finnegans Wake to bridge the gap between the conscious and unconscious mind. By employing puns, portmanteau words, and an encyclopedic range of languages, Joyce sought to interweave Irish language and mythology with the cultural and linguistic traditions of the wider world.1

These linguistic tactics, including his famous "thunder words"—massive, multi-language constructions—were designed to create an atmosphere of hidden meaning and sonic complexity. Joyce viewed the novel as an intricate "engine" intended to puzzle critics, effectively mirroring the cyclical nature of history and the fluid, often fractured, experience of a dream. Through this experimental approach, he aimed to capture the universal and archetypal qualities of human existence.1