MARK TWAINS LANGUAGE Quick Language Quiz People who

MARK TWAIN’S LANGUAGE ?

Quick Language Quiz People who live in the same part of the country develop their own ways of speaking or dialects. Dialects differ from each other mainly in pronunciation and in words used for everyday things. Write the corresponding number for your response on your handout.

1. Would you call an animal with a strong smell a… Polecat (3) Skunk (2)

2. A round cake fried in a pan is a Batter cake (3) Flannel cake (2) Griddle cake (1) Pancake (0)

3. Fill in the blank That’s _____ across the river. Plumb (3) Clean (2) Clear (1)

4. Fill in the blank I’ll be sick_______. At my stomach (3) To my stomach (1)

5. Greasy is pronounced Grēz’ • (3) Grēs’ • ē (1)

6. Fifteen minutes before ten is… Quarter till ten (3) Quarter to ten (2) Quarter of ten (1)

7. The title Mrs. Sounds like… miz’əz (3) mis’ez (1)

8. An insect that glows at night is… June bug (3) Lightening bug (2) Firefly (1)

9. A metal container that carries water is… bucket (3) pail (1)

10. An ear of corn has… shucks (3) husks (1)

Now, add up your all your numbers so you get a total. If your score is 15 points or fewer, your dialect is basically northern If your score is between 16 and 23 your dialect in the Midlands If your score is 24 or higher your dialect comes from the South. Crazy eh?

Mark Twain realized this early on in his writing and used it to create a realistic style that is relatable to how people really communicate Instead of using the formal language that is barely recognizable to the average person, Twain used language that is familiar and recognizable. He wrote just as one would speak. Sounds simple, right? Not so much.

The Confusion Factor Because we are not used to seeing our conversations in print, when we read this language, it is difficult to decipher. We must always remember that it is the sounds that are important, not necessarily the grammar and spelling.

Twain’s Language Technique Colloquial Language: The everyday language we use in conversation. It is sometimes ungrammatical, and it may contain slang words and phrases. It varies from place to place and among ethnic groups. Dialect: the way of speaking and writing that is particular to a specific region of the country. Every dialect differs from every other dialect in the details of its vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. Writers often use dialect to make their characters seem realistic. Regionalism: Words or phrases peculiar to a particular region. In literature regionalism is the tendency among certain authors to write about specific geographical areas. Regional writers present the distinct culture of an area, including its speech, customs, beliefs and history.

“The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” MARK TWAIN & HUMOR

Elements of Humor Exaggeration: To represent as greater than is actually the case; overstate Hyperbole: Extreme exaggeration Irony Verbal: saying the opposite of what is meant. Situational: the opposite of what is expected to happen occurs Dramatic: you know something the character doesn’t

Dialect: regional or social variety of a language distinguished by pronunciation, grammar, or vocabulary, especially a variety of speech differing from the standard literary language or speech pattern of the culture in which it exists Understatement: a statement that is restrained in ironic contrast to what might have been said Meiosis: understatement for rhetorical effect (especially when expressing an affirmative by negating its contrary); "saying `I was not a little upset' when you mean `I was very upset' Parody: Mocking an original work

Interpret the following passage by putting it in your own words. Underline the words or phrases that add to the regional dialect. …he ‘peared surprised, and then he looked sorter discouraged-like, and didn’t try no more to win the fight, and so he got shucked out bad.

Structure Envelope/frame narrative- A story within a story.

Round 1 Follow along as we read “The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County”

Round 2: Draft a thesis Write a thesis statement answering the following Essential question: What elements of humor are most effective in “The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County”?

Elements of Humor Exaggeration: To represent as greater than is actually the case; overstate Hyperbole: Extreme exaggeration Irony Verbal: saying the opposite of what is meant. Situation: the opposite of what is expected to happen occurs Dramatic: you know something the character doesn’t Dialect: regional or social variety of a language distinguished by pronunciation, grammar, or vocabulary, especially a variety of speech differing from the standard literary language or speech pattern of the culture in which it exists Understatement: a statement that is restrained in ironic contrast to what might have been said Meiosis: understatement for rhetorical effect (especially when expressing an affirmative by negating its contrary); "saying `I was no a little upset' when you mean `I was very upset' Parody: Mocking an original work

SAMPLE Exaggeration, Exaggeration irony and dialect are the most effective elements of humor in “The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County”.

Round 3: Interpret and support List specific examples from the story that support your thesis. You may use a bullet format. Ideally you should make approximately 3 -4 claims that have 2 -3 pieces of evidence to support them.

Sample Claim about the story Evidence to support the claim Examples, quotes, textual references “he was the The dialect of curiousest man “The about always Celebrated betting on Jumping Frog anything that of Calaveras turned up you County” adds ever see” humor Explanation of example This quote refers to Jim Smiley’s love for betting. Smiley bet on anything for the thrill of betting and sheer intoxication of competition. This adds humor because his speech is not what you would expect from a great literary piece.