"Mama gonna whip you good, too," said prideful Little Man, still fuming as we approached the school. "'Cause I'm gonna sure tell it."

Question

"Naw you ain't," said Stacey. There was a shocked silence as all heads turned to him. "This here thing's between Cassie and Lillian Jean and ain't nobody telling nobody nothin' 'bout this." He stared directly at T.J., caught his eye, and repeated, "Nobody."

—Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry,
Mildred D. Taylor

What is the difference between the language used by the narrator and the language used by the characters?

The narrator uses dialect to describe the historical setting.
The characters use language that has a point of view.
The characters speak in dialect to reflect the historical setting.
The narrator and the characters use different historical dialects.

Answer 1

The correct interpretation is:

The characters speak in dialect to reflect the historical setting.

The language used by the narrator tends to be more standard and descriptive, while the characters' dialogue incorporates dialect that reflects their cultural background and the historical context of the setting. This use of dialect helps to convey the characters' identities and experiences authentically.