Language
The language of “Blink and You Miss It” by Alex Garland is simple and easy to follow because the author uses standard and colloquial English in short sentences, both in dialogue and narrative passages:
“I got a pat on the back. ‘That's a good question. You walk up to him and say, "I want to buy some drugs". That's all.'
‘Drugs?'
‘Yeah. Don't be specific.'
I hesitated. I couldn't imagine why it was wrong to be specific, but took the instruction on good faith.
The choice of words reflects the drug culture of the nineties, but also the Thai setting with references to natural surroundings. Many of the words related to drugs are colloquial, slang expression such as “stash”, “substances”, “opiate eyes”, “score”, “speed”, “rohypmol”, etc.
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Apart from these general features, you should also look for more specific figures of speech which add to the story’s language:
- Imagery
- Similes
- Metaphors
- Repetition
- Symbols
Imagery
Imagery refers to the use of descriptive words which create overall images related to settings, characters, and actions. For instance, the story opens with imagery related to Sammy’s character, which we can imagine crossing the street methodically:
He solemnly checked in both directions, twice each way, and only then set off for the other side. He used measured strides because he's so little and liable to lose balance, but to me, he looked like a miniature explosives expert, walking from the lit fuse instead of running.
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Repetition
Repetition is used several times in the short story. First, the author uses it to bring the focus on the beach guru, which will turn out to be an important character in the plot: “In the centre sat the beach guru. The beach guru.”
Then, repetition is used in the form of an anaphora (starting consecutive sentences with the same word) to suggest what a disaster it was for the beach people to lose their drugs:
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Symbols
Various symbols are also inserted in the short story, helping the author better convey its themes.
Sammy, the child-neighbour from England, is a symbol of the untainted innocence and values which the narrator has lost. Like Sammy, the narrator used to be a good child, cautious, rule-abiding and with common sense. However, as he grew up, the narrator lost it all, as he joined a hippie community in Thailand where drug use and sexual orgies were probably common.
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