Jack with years surrounded by sea using inventive language? (7)

I believe the answer is:

joycean

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'inventive language?' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.

'jack with years surrounded by sea' is the wordplay.
'jack' becomes 'J' (playing card abbreviation).
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'years' becomes 'y' (abbreviation).
'surrounded by' indicates putting letters inside.
'sea' becomes 'ocean' (synonyms).
'y' going into 'ocean' is 'oycean'.
'j'+'oycean'='JOYCEAN'

'using' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for joycean that I've seen is " In the manner of the author of Ulysses".)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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