Language

The language used by Caryl Phillips in the excerpt from “The Pioneers: Fifty Years of Caribbean Migration to Britain” is generally formal, as indicated by words and phrases like: “strategies of exclusion” (p. 31, l. 4), “constituent members” (p. 31, l. 9) or “to admonish” (p. 33, l.1). However, the essay is mostly accessible and the writer’s argumentation is clear and expressed in a straightforward…

...

Choice of words

Caryl Phillips uses words with both positive and negative meaning. Phrases that generate positive images help the writer promote multiculturalism in Britain and outline the positive role immigrants had in promoting it: “healthy respect” (p. 31, l. 9), “live comfortably” (p. 31, l. 18), “open, fluid and comfortable” (p. 31, l. 20), “pioneer generation” (p. 31, l. 22), “cultural plurality” (p. 32, l. 10), “open fluid definition” (p. 32, l. 30), “acknowledgement, respect and gratitude” …

...

Tone

Caryl Phillips’ overall tone is serious. This is indicated by choice of words and the way he explores topics like racism and multiculturalism: “I would argue that (…) the truth is that it needs some very great fortune such as continual waves of migration to create a national culture.” (p. 32, ll. 6-10)

However, sometimes we can also notice example of irony, which suggest the writer’s tone is mocking: “…they made Britain think beyond Derby Day, Wensleydale cheese, and the Boat Race as signifiers of national identity.” (p. 33, ll. 14-15). Here, the writer suggests that some people have a narrow-minded underst…