Language

Choice of words and style of writing

The language used by Rayda Jacobs in the short story “We gotta number there” is simple and straightforward. The story is written in the past tense, and the events are depicted in chronological order, which makes it easier for the reader to follow the narrative. The entire narrative is written in an informal style, which imitates everyday speech. Several contractions are used to help the dialogue between characters feel more natural, for example: “could’ve asked” (l. 28), “that’s not all” (l. 29), “I’ve been thinking” (l. 60), and “something’s wrong” (l. 202). There are also several informal expressions that come to the reader’s attention, such as “don’t lose it” (l. 7), “sacked your gardener” (l. 18), “we gotta number there” (l. 101), and “bustling about” (l. 54). These expressions reinforce the feeling that the conversation flows naturally between characters, and adds authenticity to their different voices.

The choice of words hints, at times, at the differences between social classes. For instance, when Jonas Mbulu addresses the Cooks, he uses the words “boss” and “madam”, which show his humble and respectful attitude towards his employers. The same goes for Lucky, who also addresses the Cooks with these words, and for Muriel: “ ‘Does the madam have a job f...