oral features

All of the non-European characters slip between "proper" English, Ibo, and various forms of pidgin. They speak a given form to achieve specific purposes. Clara does it to show that as a university graduate she is above other Africans. Ibo is quoted only in untranslatable words, but these are explained in English. Passages in pidgin vary in their degree of difficulty to understand. When the speaker is excited, it is nearly impossible. The logic and flow of the language engages the reader even when some words may be doubtful.It is a nice story to listen to because ithe narrative is stylistically oral in nature.