Language
The language used by Sarfraz Manzoor in his “Second Generasians” article is generally brief and clear. The writer sometimes uses more complex sentence structures which help him connect his ideas and explain them in deta…
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Choice of words
In general, the choice of words in the article reflects a formal style. The writer treats his topic seriously and aims to explain the difference between three generations of Asian immigrants in a straightforward manner. Manzoor does not use difficult words in his article, and we also encounter examples of informal style, which makes the article more relatable.
The informal style is reflected in the title, where we encounter a word formed by merging the sounds and meanings of two or more words or word parts; “generasians” is a word formed by combining the words “generation” and “asians”. The use of words such as “cool” (p. 135, l. 1) or the informal “Brits” (p. 136, l. 14) when referring to British natives also reflect an informal writing style.
Furthermore, the writer uses a…
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Sentence structure
In his article, Sarfraz Manzoor mainly uses medium and long sentences, which help him express complex ideas. However, we also encounter short sentences, which attract the readers’ attention and help Manzoor convey a clear message.
The article begins with a short sentence: “In Britain today, it is cool to be Asian.” (p. 135, l. 1). This statement is simple and intriguing, making readers curious about the writer’s arguments and wanting to read further.
Other short sentences help readers focus on particular ideas and consider their meaning. For exa…
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Tone
Manzoor’s tone is generally serious. This helps him build his authority and make his arguments more convincing.
His tone is also slightly ironic as he describes the British as “pink strangers” (p. 135, l. 8).
When describing the circumstances in which his father came to Britain, the writer seems to adopt a cynical tone: “The British were seeking immigrants to do work they themselves did not want to do.” (p. 135, ll. 14-16). The writer’s statement…
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Personal stories and anecdotes
In the article, Sarfraz Manzoor tells his personal story and uses it to describe the experience of Asian immigrants in Britain, especially of those from the second-generation. The secon-generation of immigrants represents the children of the first-generation who immigrated from Pakistan and other Asian countries in search for a better life in Britain.
First, readers learn about his father, who travelled alone to Britain, leaving his wife and children back in Pakistan (p. 135, ll. 4-9). The writer would join his father, with the rest of his family, at the age of three (p. 136. ll. 46-2). This indicates that the writer spent most of his life in Britain, growi…
