I was actually intrigued by how much I enjoyed reading this novel. I have been worried about this book since the beginning of the semester because I knew that it was dialect heavy, but I was actually impressed with how easily I read this book. While the dialect was heavy and somewhat difficult for me, it was not nearly as problematic as I assumed it would be. Oddly enough, the two books that initially turned me off to reading strong dialects were The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Their Eyes Were Watching God—the latter being the most painful read I have ever experienced in terms of dialect. This semester I am forced to re-read Huck Finn, a book that I completely hated in high school because Jim’s speech made me feel like a slow reader who didn’t belong in an A.P. English class. However, when I started reading it again this semester, it didn’t seem quite as difficult as it did in the past. I wasn’t so overwhelmed with correcting and making sense of comment. It just kind of worked itself out. Between this experience and the amazing intrigue I found in the style of Push, I think I have grown as a reader. I think that I no longer struggle as much with the variations from standard English that most books use in dialogue and style. I didn’t feel like I was reading any slower than I normally do. I will probably always read slowly, but I can actually appreciate this style of writing more and might even try spicing up the dialogue in my own writing with unique dialects. Have any of you experienced this type of “educational” growth?
What was your opinion of the literacy theme and dialect in this book?
Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteWe've talked about the dialect a great deal in the last little bit. In the class where we are being “forced” to read Huck Finn we have brought a lot of our study of Push into the discussion. The language of both can be something to use caution with in the classroom. Although Push isn't used like Huck Finn in English/Literature classes it does have some of the same dialect issues. I actually read the dialect faster than I would something written in the overly wordy European form.
I think the dialect is essential in this book. It is about an inner-city teen who is illiterate in the beginning of the book. Without the dialect, you wouldn't get the growth of her character. You wouldn't see how she progresses into the confident woman who knows she is capable of learning. You wouldn't see the influence of Ms. Rain. You wouldn't see how profound her poetry is. These are my favorite insights of the novel. Without them, the book just wouldn't be as good; without the dialect the book just wouldn't work.
I agree with Amanda when she said that she read Push’s dialect faster than she could read European standard English. I am the same way. I think the dialect in Push is very different from that in Huck Finn and many other books that have dialect. The dialect in Push isn’t as deep as it is in Huck Finn. Its not very far from the way we speak. I think its easier to read Push than it is to read say Jacob’s dialogues in Wuthering Heights because it is so very different from our own way of speaking. It’s the same for Jim in Huck Finn. We don’t speak like that anymore and if they do, we don’t commonly hear from them. There are, strangely enough, places in the United States that the speech patterns of natives are not easily comprehendible to other Americans. I heard some of these people speak in my Linguistics class last semester.
ReplyDeleteI think if the book were to tell the real story of a real girl from New York City, the dialect should have been much stronger and therefore harder to read. I think the author or the publishers probably took the real dialogue and simplified it to get a version that wouldn’t be so hard to read that people wouldn’t be interested in the book. I think it would have been better to have a heavier dialect at the beginning of the book and then slowly weed it out to give the reader a better sense of progression that isn’t necessarily all narration. I agree with Amanda that the book wouldn’t work without the dialect, but I also saw quite a few inconsistencies in the dialect and Precious’s progression that make the book lose some of its realistic qualities.
I agree that Push definitely was a faster read than some of the other books featuring dialect. I also agree with Elizabeth that a certain amount of "educational growth" is necessary to fully appreciate books such as this, as well as Huck Finn. I think when we are students in high school, we feel inconvenienced by having to read difficult books. Even though we take A.P. classes to prepare ourselves for college, we sometimes resent the amount of effort that goes along with it, I think. Reading these things in college, we have obviously grown and I think we simply take it more seriously.
ReplyDeleteAs for the literacy theme and dialect of Push, I also agree that it was absolutely necessary. I also liked Kelly's comment that the dialect should have been much stronger, but the author and/or publisher probably simplified it. There were also some posts on the Db about some inconsistencies with the progression of dialect and certain spellings. For me, it didn't lose any realistic qualities, it just showed me that even though Precious was progressing in her literacy, she was still overcoming those obstacles and from time to time might write certain words differently (such as Ms. Rain, Mz. Rain).
On reading slow, do you use sub vocalization? I always wondered why I read so damn slow and finally found out this year that it's because I sub vocalize. It means I hear every word in my head. I can't imagine how people would read any other way but apparently super fast readers register the visual composition of the word or some such process.
ReplyDeleteAs far as educational growth, my entire adolescence and semi-adult life, I have claimed to HATE English literature. I've totally fallen in love with English lit this semester and last summer. :) I've never had too much of a problem with dialect. I have struggled with what I think are some inconsistencies in dialect/narration in this novel that I discussed on the BB discussion thread.
Something that struck me about literacy in this novel was the social worker's comments about Precious' desire to get her G.E.D. "The time and resources it would require for this young woman to get a G.E.D. or into college would be considerable. Although she is in school now, it is not a job readiness program. Amost all instruction seems to revolve around language (acquisition)." How infuriating! Our system is set up to get people mediocre jobs that will keep them in poverty as Precious demonstrates when she does the math for a personal attendant's salary. Why would the welfare system want someone to not have their G.E.D.? Luckily, I think our focus has shifted somewhat to make sure people are working toward their education. I know that there are lot of supportive systems for persons working toward their G.E.D. and for higher education. I'm certain we still have a long way to go though.
I agree with Amanda; this book would not be the same at all without showing the progression of Precious's speaking and writing capabilities. I loved how every other word was a cuss word at first, and then as she became more comfortable with writing, reading, and expanding her vocabulary... she became this beautiful poet wiht a unique view on the often dirty, ugly world that she had been subjected to her whole life.
ReplyDeleteDialect and dialogue has never bothered me before, though when it's written as it is in Push, I can see how it could drag you down during the reading when words are so often incomplete and letters are in odd orders. I kind of got the hang of "deciphering" what Precious was trying to say as the book went on.
Lindsey,
ReplyDeleteI read very fast because I look at an entire word or a group of words to determine the meaning. But the words look so similar that I used to get them mixed up. Reading is a lot easier for me compared to writing. When writing, I'm creating which is a different process than registering. I generally only write what in a word I would register. I have to work to include the other letters.