Language in Two Stories

Paper Summary:

This paper focuses its discussion on the use of language in the two works and comments on the authors' use or rejection or variation of what for recognition's sake we will call standard English. It explains that language is a powerful tool in storytelling, and these two short stories are excellent examples of the disparity of language, and what an important part it can play in the telling of a tale, especially a regional one. Language is so important; it can almost be considered another character in these two stories.

From the Paper:

"In "Do Angels Wear Brassieres?" the language for the children is the dialect of Jamaica, imitating the rhythmic and singsong way Jamaicans have of speaking, and the author uses this dialect almost from the first sentence in the story. "No. Not praying for nobody that tek whe mi best glassy eye marble" (Senior 1115). This way, the reader understands who the characters are immediately, and the flavor of the story is instantly set in the reader's mind. The author sets the natives and the foreigners apart by using language, and the difference is subtle but extremely important. The foreign adults are more "mature," and speak in the "proper" English language of grownups, while the children and the natives speak in the magical language of the islands. It sets them apart from each other, and additionally intimates what the natives lose of their heritage as they lose their lovely language to "proper" English. It is clear the narrator of the story is a child by the language of the narration; it is simple and lilting like the speech of the natives. Senior does not use punctuation to imitate the quick speech of the natives, and it is an interesting technique. It is difficult to read, but it captures the people perfectly. The language here is almost like another character; it is so vivid and so important to the story. If Senior had written the story in "normal" English, it would not have had nearly the impact or the charm that is has."

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