Language

The language used in “Cold Calling” by Chuck Palahniuk is overall simple and easy to follow.

Choice of words

The use of typical sales language and words give the story authenticity, but these might not be familiar to all readers: “The computer feeds me a Mrs. Wayne Timmons…”  (p. 125, l. 3); “we’re cold calling for the Wonder Wet Wiper…” (p. 125, l. 4), “jump back to Level Two statements…” (p. 125, l. 12); etc.

The story also includes parts of a typical sales script which describes the product as the best thing one could buy and which creates humor and irony: “…not just a mop, but a whole entire floor-enhancement system, the only sure way for you to protect and preserve your fine-quality floor coverings…” (p. 125, l. 4-6)

Several offensive words are also included in the story, helping Chuck Palahniuk make the characters credible and outlining the theme of racial prejudices and stereotypes: “Towel head” (p. 128, l. 7), “Camel jockey” (p. 128, l. 8), “Sand nigger” (p. 128, l. 9), “colored homo” (p. 130, l. 21). “godless half-breed babies” (p. 130, ll. 21-22); “He says, ‘Well, no friggin’ thanks Haji…’ ” (p. 128, ll. 5-6).

The writer includes a few descriptive epithets and phrases that are related to the characters, setting, or abstract characters (deities): “fine-quality floor covering” (p. 125, l. 6), “normal, real person” (p. 127, l. 24), “ruined hardwood” (p. 125, l. 7), “costly vinyl-laminate damage” (p. 125, l. 8), “smiling elephant god” (p. 127, l. 4); “naked woman with lots of wiggling arms” (p. 127, ll. 5-6), “long blond hair” (p. 129, l. 18)

Some of the epithets used have a negative meaning or are even offensive, and help mark tensions in the story: “servile work” (p. 127, l. 3); “worse-paying job.” (p. 127, l. 15); “dirty cows” (p. 127, l. 33)’ “crappy mop” (p. 128, l. 5); “imperialist corporate overlords” (p. 128, l. 17); “dinky town” (p. 128, l. 25).

Conveyed in the first person, pronouns like “I” and “me”...