Style of language

In his short story “A Small, Good Thing”, Raymond Carver uses language characterized by a mix of formal and informal styles. The informal style can be recognized mainly in the dialogue, where contractions and informal expressions are used to convey a natural speaking style: “ ‘You know what I mean,’ he said. ‘Juice, something. I don't know. I don't know anything, Ann. Jesus, I'm not hungry, either.’ ” (p. 11, ll. 5-6). Here, we also notice that the distinction between the narration and the dialogue is marked through quotation marks. The formal style can be noticed in the narrator’s descriptions, where he does not use contractions:

They listened carefully. Although they were tired and in anguish, they listened to what the baker had to say. They no...