Vocabulary
/və(ʊ)ˈkabjʊləri/
noun
1.the body of words used in a
particular language.
2.a range of artistic or
stylistic forms, techniques, or movements.
That is in fact the meaning of vocabulary, but how is it used in the novel 'To kill a mockingbird'?
To kill a Mockingbird is written in modern American English, and the style is
informal, the narrator is a child, however the author does
not keep within the limits of a child's vocabulary. A wide range of language is used in the novel, the language is used in various different ways especially when it comes to how the characters speak. Although the book is based in a time of the great depression, there was still distinct social classes.The better-off, well educated white people of Maycomb speak more grammatically than what the poor, uneducated do. for example Atticus Finch speaks with respect or formal dialect nomatter how much he may like or dislike the person, he speaks elegantly compared to such townsfolk as Bob Ewell or even Heck Tate. This even applies to the children, when Scout speaks she uses far better grammar and has better understanding of words compared to Burris Ewell who is lowerclass. Southern colloquialism is used in the book (a colloquialism is a local or regional dialect expression; It's a word or phrase commonly used in an area.) words such as 'lookin', 'mornin', 'an't'. The pronunciation of the final "g" in words has been dropped, but the ending of words isnt dropped all the time, sometimes they have been left on as a kind of emphasis on that word. Jem often answers Miss Maudie with the very Southern "Yessum" and "Nome" (for "Yes, Ma'am" and "No, Ma'am"). slang words are often used such as "Yappy" -meaning talkative, "steed" -meaning horse, "thin-hided" -meaning sensitive, "sam hill" -meaning the devil or hell, "hidy" -known as howdy meaning hello, "yonder" -meaning to walk in some distance indicated, "smatter" -meaning what is the matter, e.t.c. the common use of "nigger" also gives the reader an idea of how white people discriminated against african americans durring this time period.
/və(ʊ)ˈkabjʊləri/
noun
1.the body of words used in a
particular language.
2.a range of artistic or
stylistic forms, techniques, or movements.
That is in fact the meaning of vocabulary, but how is it used in the novel 'To kill a mockingbird'?
To kill a Mockingbird is written in modern American English, and the style is
informal, the narrator is a child, however the author does
not keep within the limits of a child's vocabulary. A wide range of language is used in the novel, the language is used in various different ways especially when it comes to how the characters speak. Although the book is based in a time of the great depression, there was still distinct social classes.The better-off, well educated white people of Maycomb speak more grammatically than what the poor, uneducated do. for example Atticus Finch speaks with respect or formal dialect nomatter how much he may like or dislike the person, he speaks elegantly compared to such townsfolk as Bob Ewell or even Heck Tate. This even applies to the children, when Scout speaks she uses far better grammar and has better understanding of words compared to Burris Ewell who is lowerclass. Southern colloquialism is used in the book (a colloquialism is a local or regional dialect expression; It's a word or phrase commonly used in an area.) words such as 'lookin', 'mornin', 'an't'. The pronunciation of the final "g" in words has been dropped, but the ending of words isnt dropped all the time, sometimes they have been left on as a kind of emphasis on that word. Jem often answers Miss Maudie with the very Southern "Yessum" and "Nome" (for "Yes, Ma'am" and "No, Ma'am"). slang words are often used such as "Yappy" -meaning talkative, "steed" -meaning horse, "thin-hided" -meaning sensitive, "sam hill" -meaning the devil or hell, "hidy" -known as howdy meaning hello, "yonder" -meaning to walk in some distance indicated, "smatter" -meaning what is the matter, e.t.c. the common use of "nigger" also gives the reader an idea of how white people discriminated against african americans durring this time period.
- The children use a lot of slang and add quite a few adjectives to their sentences when speaking.
- Atticus speaks courteously, formally but straightforwardly. This courtesy has been taught to his children and has become part of Jem and Scout's vocabulary.
- Bob Ewell uses a crude, harsh language at the trial and refers to Mayella being
raped 'screamin' like a stuck hog' (Chapter 17, p. 178). This is a simile and it shows what little love and respect he has for his daughter.