The analytical section
By Debbie Harris, Contributor

BELOW IS the sample of an analysis of an excerpt from Bella Makes Life. Last week's publication has the excerpt itself. Make sure you refer closely to it as you read this analysis. This analysis is much longer than what is being required of you (the syllabus states a word limit of 350), however, it will provide you with the necessary focus points and a thorough examination of this piece which I have selected for this lesson. The Analysis

In the short story Bella Makes Life Lorna Goodson explores the changes in character that occur when a woman named Bella migrates to the United States of America (leaving her family in the process). Bella does this in order to provide for her family, what she perceives to be, a better way of life. This particular extract illustrates a part of Bella's metamorphosis. The gradual change is shown in Bella's physical attire, her manner of communication and the new way in which she relates to her spouse Joe and their children.

The register that each character uses and the reasons for their use of it are important to our understanding of them as individuals, as they shape our reactions to them. Whether the register is formal or informal, colloquial or ceremonial, a person's choice of register tells the reader the truth about a person's personality. Goodison, who is the narrator in the story, frequently switches registers smoothly and often between Jamaican Standard English, pure Basilect Creole and a combination of both ­ Mesolect. She uses words such as 'posse', 'demarcation' and 'oblivious', which are not native to Jamaican Creole, and which may leave the reader wondering what is she talking about. Another example is the continuous use of 'patois' ­ the Jamaican form of Creole, in discussing Bella's imminent return, then including the last sentence, 'Joe Joe was very depressed'. This curious transition occurs throughout the story. In general, Goodison uses Jamaican Creole to apply to a story about Jamaicans, therefore suitable to the social environment, and to appeal to her Jamaican readers who will be able to relate to this more informal, casual style of writing/speaking.

The choice of registers also applies to Joe and his friends. He, in using certain expressions, gives the impression of a person with general intelligence and common sense, and speaks in Mesolect as well as Basilect, parts of the Jamaican Language Continuum. He uses this register so as to relate to his peers and fit into his social environment. The company he keeps, as evinced by Miss Blossom and Norman, uses the same colloquial form of expression. He does the same to be a part of their social grouping, to be accepted, recognised, and also because it is unlikely that he has been exposed to other types of register that may change his lifestyle; he uses the casual, vernacular, informal form of English. The result, for the three characters, is a frank, straightforward and candid style of speech, full of clichés and idiomatic expressions, as shown in the description of Bella by Norman, and the discussion between Joe and Miss Blossom. Using this register enables Joe to be accepted and blend into his environment much more easily than if he was not using it.

On the other hand, Bella's register perfectly reflects her changing attitudes and perspectives on life. It can be inferred from the passage that Bella was raised in the same environment as Joe was, and the change in her has overwhelmed him, for example his reaction when Bella returns as a 'stranger'. Her departure from her natural setting to a foreign one has caused a change in her innate personality. The register that she chooses to use in her home makes her an outcast, which is shown clearly when one contrasts it with the easy relaxed flow of speech between Joe and his friends. She wants to impress her family, to show that she has acquired some 'desired' form of culture (American) and wealth in her travels, but it only results in alienating them and herself. The speech becomes humorous when one hears the mixture of American lingo and Jamaican Creole, for example, her mention of "... take time with that jagging suit...", but it can also be seen as a pathetic attempt to return to a past which cannot be recaptured, and trying to combine her two homes, yet failing repeatedly. Dialectal variations refer to the change in the form of the same language over geographic, time and cultural gaps. The first most obvious situation is that both parties are using the same language - English, with different forms, connotations, dialects and so forth. The English used by Joe, Miss Blossom and Norman falls between the Basilect and Mesolect, parts of the Jamaican Language Continuum. Intra-personally, Joe and the others never move significantly from these two categories, flowing effortlessly between them, occasionally in the same sentence, for example, in the statement, "- but remember say Bella is mi baby mother you know and no matter what is the situation, respect is due." This simple transfer is typical of all of the characters in the story, with two exceptions.

The first is Bella, as mentioned before, who changes her dialect due to the spaces of time, culture and geography. After a few years, in a foreign country, far away from a similar culture, Bella has to change her way of life to suit her new environment and gradually become accepted, displayed by her change in dialect, from Jamaican Standard English (JSE). Since significant interactions with her native culture would be rare, she would gradually accept the new dialect as her own, yet still inserting references to her former dialect. That struggle between JSE and American Standard English (ASE) and Jamaican Creole (JC) can be seen through the few words that she says at the end of the extract, including, "Devon, beg you don't bother ...". "... beg you" is a part of Jamaican vernacular, however 'bother', pronounced correctly, is not generally used in ordinary conversation.

The author is also exhibiting dialectal variation. She may be doing this to accommodate her JC and her JSE speaking audience, therefore altering sentence structure, word choice, and adding a few statements that seem out of place in the extract, such as the word 'posse' an American word following descriptions in Patois. Her language can also be seen as her own peculiar form of idiolect, as if the narrative was originally written in Creole, then shaped into an acceptably written, partly JSE form.

Cultural stereotypes can be seen through dialectal variation. The act of a Jamaican Creole woman to travel to the United States and suddenly change her speech, accents, habits et cetera, is a common enough occurrence, one perpetuated by the media, playwrights and novelists.

Due to the change in dialects and registers, the varying attitudes shown to these changes are expected and show the general disposition of mankind to discrepancies. The historical nature of JC has led to it being what some call a 'bastard' language and has not been universally accepted as a language at all. Bella, in contributing to this, changes her language to suit her new environment. This abrupt change is symbolic of the attitude that some people have towards Creole and Standard languages. Bella obviously thinks that ASE is superior to JC and even JSE, as is shown by her need to incorporate it into her former lifestyle. If, however, Bella had not succumbed to the pressures placed on her to conform to her new society, she may have been humiliated, insulted, and prejudiced against because of her language choice.

On the other hand, Joe Joe is unable to comprehend the reasoning behind Bella's abrupt change of behaviour. It is not coincidental that Joe Joe is able to relate to Miss Blossom better than he can to Bella, proving that theirs is a dysfunctional relationship that cannot work until they are able to communicate with each other in their own language. Not only is Joe Joe unable to understand her as a person, he is also unable to understand her attitude to her newfound language, because he has not been in the same situation that she has experienced. As a result, the attitudes towards her range from critical (Miss Blossom) to disparaging (Norman). In addition, there is the inferred sycophantic attitude towards Bella that would be displayed by other members of the community, represented in this case by the women who gather to talk with Bella. They quite likely have the same idea of superiority of ASE that Bella holds. Symbolically, Joe Joe is unable to understand what they are discussing.

Finally, in regards to communicative behaviors (non-verbal communication), the author captures much meaning which is not conveyed through the use of words. Goodison states, "... line of demarcation between social friends and sweethearts ..." between Joe Joe and Miss Blossom had been crossed. Her movement into the household's daily activities signifies, without words, the gradual replacement of Bella with Miss Blossom in Joe Joe's life. Bella's appearance ­ her outlandish clothes, signifies incongruity with her setting, and immediately begins, or continues, her removal as the woman in Joe Joe's life. Her presentation of the gifts to her children, carefully mentioning prices as if she was hard pressed to let go of the money, not only shows the lack of maternal affection that Bella has for her children, but also her need to show everyone that she has succeeded in her life.

Time is another factor in communicative behaviour. Bella returns suddenly after weeks, months even years, and expects everything to be exactly the way she had left it. The fact that she communicates with her husband through a third person, Mr. Lee's telephone, shows the dwindling affection and communicability that is occurring between the to of them. This lack of affection is shown through Joe Joe's increasing state of depression, not wanting her to return for various reasons and, contradicting these reasons is his unwillingness to commit to Miss Blossom, showing his lack of desire to either settle down or repeat a bad mistake.

The lack of communication is shown by Bella having to finally resort to sexual favours to get him to stay with her. As a result, she feels like a stranger to Joe Joe, even though it is likely that they have known each other for years. Finally, his returning home late every evening, sacrificing his Christmas joy in his need to avoid her, shows the reader that unless one of them begins to compromise, there will be no understanding in this relationship, and it is doomed to failure.

In conclusion, the dialectal variations, communicative behaviours and the varying uses of register by the characters in the extract are all influenced by their attitudes towards the form of language they speak. The extract provides examples of the many ways in which language may be used and abused by different individuals. The meaning which is attached to the language itself, as well as, the attitudes towards it is shaped by the culture to which the characters of this extract belong. Bella and her change in personality become the catalyst for the manifestation of these attitudes.

I trust that this has been of some help to you. Until next week, walk good!