IOP Journal #4

After thinking more and asking others their opinions I have found two more effects that southern dialect has on the text. When the reader reads the text they are about to better understand the cultural aspect. When the book was written this was the time of the Harlem Renaissance. Zora Neale Hurston was involved in this time period and her work reflects this. By using southern dialect the author is able to show the reader and others the way in which African Americans act. Many blacks drop of parts of words and with a strong accent this is hard to decipher. The other effect this dialect has on the text is characterization. In addition to understanding the way in which many African Americans act back in the time this book was written, it lets the reader better understand the characters and their roles. For example, Jodie is seen in a higher position in the Eatonville; however, by his speech nobody would ever know it. Jodie still uses a strong southern dialect that allows the reader to know that while he may hold a high position in the town he doesn't show it.