Walker, Alice: *1944

The Color Purple, 1982 - Language/Style

  • English Language Level: Intermediate
    • Grammar – Mostly simple sentence structures.

      Vocabulary – Everyday words with some historical terms.

      Dialect – Heavy use of non-standard, spoken English. (e.g. "I ast him" → I asked him)

      Style – Letters with informal language. (e.g. "Dear God" – casual opening, shows personal, conversational tone instead of formal “To Whom It May Concern.”)

  • The grammar and vocabulary are mostly simple, but non-standard dialect, informal style, and implied meanings require careful reading and context to fully understand.