Language

Style of language

In “Just below the Surface”, author Kate Nivison employs both formal and informal language. The formal language can mostly be seen in the narration (p. 129, ll. 8-11).

In the characters’ dialogue, informal language is suggested, for example, by contractions and shortened words: “ ‘Do you know what I’ve seen ‘em do?’ ” (l. 134, l. 19). Words such as “love”, “dear”,  and colloquialisms such as “innit” (a shortened version of the phrase “is it not?”) also indicate an informal style of writing. This adds realism to the story by showing how the British working class speak. 

The context of the story also suggests that, by calling Indrani “love” or “darling”,  the men from the Council treat her with superiority both because she is Indian and because she is a woman.

The narrator generally uses many adjectives which often have negative meanings, suggesting her fear and distress caused by both the rat problem and by the possibility of being stereotyped and judged: “horrible things” (...