"The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" by Junot Díaz. How Does the Language Used Reflect the Transcultural Identity of the Characters? (PDF)

Studienarbeit aus dem Jahr 2016 im Fachbereich Didaktik für das Fach Englisch - Literatur, Werke, Note: 1,0, Universität Konstanz, Veranstaltung: Hauptseminar: American Literature and Culture 2, Sprache: Deutsch, Abstract: This term paper analyzes the language used in "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" by Junot Díaz and intends to find out how the language mirrors the transcultural identity of the characters. In order to do so, first the terms "Identity" and "Transcultural Identity" are defined and explained, followed by a subchapter discussing the relationship between the language a person uses and his or her identity.

Following that, a detailed analysis of the language in the novel is made. This includes the two languages English and Spanish as well as the methods of mixing them and switching between them. Furthermore, there is a variety of speech registers to be found in the novel, two of which are discussed in detail, namely "Nerdspeak" and Academic English. The analysis includes the description of when and how specific words or registers are used, as well as the interpretation as to what this reveals about the sense of belonging or the confusion of identity found in the characters.