SECTION B

MODULE 2- LANGUAGE AND COMMUNITY

1. Read the following extract carefully and then answer the questions that follow.

‘Now Rebecca, Hm. You are a very clever, very entertaining little girl. Very. But what I had in mind were questions that
are a bit more serious. Your Aunt tells me you are being prepared for confirmation. Surely, you must have some questions
about doctrine, hm, religion, that puzzle you. No serious questions?’
Beccka look at Archdeacon long and hard. ‘Yes,’ she say at long last in a small voice.
Right away Archdeacon sit up straighter.
‘What is it my little one?’
Beccka screwing up her face in concentration.
‘Sir, what I want to know is this for I can’t find it in the Bible. Please sir, do angels wear brassieres?”
Auntie Mary just that minute coming through the doorway with a full tea tray with Cherry carrying another big tray
behind her. Enough food and drink for ten Archdeacon. Auntie Mary stop braps in the doorway with fright when she hear
Beccka’s question. She stop so sudden that Cherry bounce into her and spill a whole pitcher of cold drink all down Auntie
Mary back. As the coldness hit her, Auntie Mary jump and half her tray throwaway on the floor. Milk and sugar and
sandwiches a rain down on Archdeacon. Archdeacon jump up with his handkerchief and start mop himself and Auntie
Mary at the same time he trying to take the tray from her. Auntie Mary at the same time trying to mop up the Archdeacon
with a napkin, in her mortification, not even noticing how Archdeacon relieve that so much confusion come at this time.
Olive Senior, “Do Angels Wear Brassieres?”
The Oxford Book of Caribbean Short Stories.
Oxford University Press, 1999, pp. 310-311
In an essay of no more than 500 words, discuss:
(i) Possible reasons for the writer’s language choices used in the narrative
(ii) Difficulties that non-West Indians may experience in understanding the passage
(iii) How a video presentation could enhance the comedic effect of the text.
Total 25 marks

The passage ​“Do Angels Wear Brassieres?”, by Olive Senior, i​ llustrates a conversation between an Arch-Deacon, and a
naive girl, who is about to be confirmed. It went on to showcase a number of ​language elements, namely; attitudes to
language, communicative behaviours, language registers, and dialectal variations. Consequently, the writer enhances the
comedic nature of the passage through specific language choices. Though non-West Indians would have difficulties
understanding the piece; a video presentation could effectively convey the essence of the extract.

There are various reasons for the writer's language choices. There is evidence of both the Standard English and Creole.
The creole, as used by the narrator, could easily assist in capturing the humour of the scene. It could also be argued that
the author seeks to appeal to, as well as highlight aspects of the Caribbean culture. Interestingly, the reader will also see
evidence of the Standard English, as used by the Arch Deacon, in order to establish his 'position'/ status.

As mentioned previously, the author sought to appeal to Caribbean culture. Thus, non West Indians would have grave
difficulty in understanding the passage. This difficulty would be as a result of the stark difference in the lexicon and
vocabulary of the creole which juxtaposes the meaning of the words in standard English. A few examples are the use of
the words "bounce" and "screwing". In a similar fashion, the grammar or syntax structure of some sentences, would not be
familiar to non West Indians. In the passage, there is evidence of the zero-copula feature, for example; "...he trying to take
the tray away from her".

To highlight the comedic nature of the passage via a video presentation, great emphasis would be placed on gesturemics,
chronemics and facial expressions. The confused look on the girl's face when asking about the angels, would be
counterbalanced by an even more stark look of shock and even disdain on the part of the Archdeacon. Great emphasis
would be placed on the knitting of the brows, the widening of the eyes and even allowing him to give a sudden gasp.
Chronemics would come into play as the timing of the lady carrying the tray of food would be immediately cued as soon
as the girl says the word "brassieres". The response of the tray holder would be exaggerated as the artefacts on the tray
would be thrown in various directions across the room, to suggest her shock at the girl's 'precocious' question.

In conclusion; writers have always used language in order to express thoughts, feelings and emotions. It is evident that
this writer sought to conjure the emotion of humour through this passage. By varying away from the typical use of
Standard English on the part of the narrator, the writer not only keeps the reader interested, but heightens the comedic
value. Unfortunately, due to this unorthodox use of narration, persons outside the Caribbean diaspora would have
difficulty comprehending the lexicon and syntax structure. Thankfully however, technology could be used to make the
story line mutually intelligible, through the use of a video presentation.

Written by: ​Daniel Austin, Romarey Brown, Jason Chong, Spencer Darlington, Aaron-John Edwards, Kirk Frater, Nicholas Gayle,
Tariq Gayle, Jaren Ingram, Wanya’ Johnson, Kashane Kirkland and Mr. Rolando Smith. ​WBS - 6B Group 4S - February 21, 2019.