Language

The language used in “Adam” by Michael Lee Cohen contains a mix of formal and informal styles. The informal style can be found mostly in Adam’s quoted lines, as they are part of a conversation that Adam has with the interviewer, Michael Cohen. 

Since the interview does not have the typical question-answer structure, it resembles an article. Cohen uses a more neutral or formal language, which is typical when writing articles. It also helps with credibility, as it expresses a sense of emotional distance, which readers would expect from an interviewer. 

The formal style is recognizable when Cohen uses longer sentences that provide many details, for example, when he describes Adam’s early life (p. 136, ll. 6-11). A more informal style is reflected in phrases such as “most of what he wants is green” (p. 137, l. 18) and “dire p...