Language

Style of writing

The language of the short story “Ghosts” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is formal, in keeping with the narrator’s educated background. The sentences are mostly long and descriptive, highlighting the narrator’s observant nature.

Dialogue enriches the story. We notice immediately that there is a difference between the conversations James has with his former driver and his friends and the talk between James and Ikenna, who is also a retired university professor. 

Igbo words and phrases are introduced in both the dialogue and the narrative. For example, when Vincent, James’ former driver, mentions he has not received his pension for three years, James exclaims: “ ‘O joka’ ”, which is Igbo for “it is ver...