Language

Choice of words

The choice of words is very important in James Matthews's "The Park". Throughout the short story, the park and the people inside it are described vividly. The writing is a mix of narration and dialogue, with some elements of monologue as the boy’s thoughts are sometimes presented directly. The author uses several words and expressions which are part of the Afrikaans language, which was the official language in South Africa at the time when the story takes place. An element of this language is used in dialogue, to give it a more authentic character: “‘Blerry whites! They got everything.” (l. 336). Similarly, the sign outside the park is written both in Afrikaans as well as English: “‘Blankes Alleen, Whites Only’” (l. 46). Another Afrikaans term is used to give authenticity to a description of the main character’s neighborhood: “As he walked past, he sniffed the nostril-prickling smell of dagga.” (l. 280)

The writing itself is informal and easy to understand, further highlighting that we are witnessing events from the point of view of a child. The author uses positive words to describe the park: “gaily painted tubbing” (l. 56), “children cavorting” (l. 147) and negative words for the neighborhood where the boy lives: “squawking children” (l. 210), “overflowing garbage pails” (l. 215), “smashed panes” (l. 216). This helps show the contrast between the park and the area where the boy lives and, implicitly, between the places where only white people are allowed and the places where people of color are forced to live.

Personification

Personification is used several times in the text. One such example is the description of the park: “the swings screech...