Dialect, Identity, Power

Text 1)

(1) The language of the narrator had a very informal tone. For example he uses the phrase “he was us now” and “gimme back my shoes”. Through out the text you can feel a certain whimsical and musical flow to it, because it used rhyme and repetition. You can also assume that whom the narrator is talking about is southern from words such as “ain’t” and “gimme back my hat”…

(2)Paul D’s character is in many ways portrayed through the authors language. You can tell he is southern from the words “aint” and “gimme”. You can also tell he used to be in a farm from the first poem explained, an you can tell he used to be in prison from the second poem.

(3)The songs reflect his lifestyle, his past, and what he is going through. Therefore certain songs would have a certain emotion and meaning behind it that cannot be song in a different occasion or a atmosphere.

Text 2)

(1) Morrison speech is spoken to a wide audience, but I think her main goal was to send out the message of her speak (keeping language alive) to the young, because they make up what happens in the “future”.

(2)Tony Morrison uses sophisticated and difficult language. The language is filled with hard words like “narcissism” and “fiat” , and metaphors like “tongue suicide” implying how people sometimes use violence instead of language to express their anger/hatred because the language would be too restricted to convey that powerful emotion. I thought her language that she used was so powerful that you can feel the power but you wont understand what its about unless you research what words mean.

(3) Yes it is.

(4) Language might be stolen in the sense that someone can prohibit you from using his or her own language. Like a language can be restricted by so much rules that they can steal the person’s own voice. Language is for conveying meaning and by setting rules on it, you steal the own’s way of conveying meaning.

Text 3)

(1) It is easy to understand because the language is used commonly between teenagers, (Teenager Vernacular). Though, it may be difficult for adults (especially old people) to understand it, because of the large amount of “slang” Soulja Boy uses.

(2) This song can belong to various communities, because it is well known. Also because the language and context of the song can be relevant to many people not just one community.

(3) This song can be made for the people that understand his type of music and rather enjoy it. Especially the teenagers that look at this song as the ‘hip thing” to listen to. Though, it is obvious that soulja boy was not really targeting the adults and elderly because they do not ”turn their swag on”