M. Dal Compare_mod. 3_Assign.4_Exercise in style p. 96
Variations on a theme - Exercise in style p. 96
Reports on an argument between a black girl and a white saleswoman.
POLICEMAN (Standard British English)
“Oct. 24, 10:15 a.m.: Officers were called to “Paper and Pen” in response to a report of a fight in
the stationer’s. The suspects were questioned and two people were charged with disorderly
conduct — a 43-year-old white woman (Kimberly Morton) and a 19-year-old black girl (Mary
Richardson). Kimberly Morton claimed that Mary Richardson wanted to returned a fountain pen
she had bought earlier but she was forced to refuse because the girl had damaged it. The
disagreement degenerated into a scuffle. Mary Richardson was hit in the face and head several
times, and witnesses said she hit Kimberly Morton several times as well.”
OLD PIOUS LADY (Standard British English)
“My goodness! There is no more justice in this world! Where will it all end? What will become of
us? All we can do is put ourselves in God’s hands! Have you heard what happened? I was just
passing through… when I happened to see this terrible scene! A poor black woman was trying to
return a fountain pen she bought two days ago at this stationer’s. She claimed that it didn't work
but the saleswoman absolutely refused to believe her and insisted that she must have damaged it
since it was working before. The sales woman completely lost her head and took her anger out on
the poor defenceless girl. Racism is an evil which persists in our society. It is one of the results of
people being alienated from God through sin. Only the merciful hand of our Lord can save her
soul!”
Eliminato: of
Eliminato: on the
Eliminato: before
Eliminato: G
Eliminato: e
Eliminato: we
Eliminato: up
Eliminato: We can just
Eliminato: lady
Eliminato: in
Eliminato: no
Eliminato: strongly
LORRY DRIVER (Black American slang)
"Yo man, I wanna say wassup to my black sista’. I’m gonna tell you right now what the story is. I'm
caught up in all this shit because that fuckin’ white cop parked his white ass in the wrong place!
And all those white bible thumpers have come here just fishing for food! My poor sista’ just wanted
to return that damned pen because it’s crap! The thing is, these whiteys have this kind of attitude
that we/us niggers are criminals. And the goddamn government couldn't give a fuck about it!”
Eliminato: as it worked
Eliminato: completely
Eliminato: endures
Eliminato: h
Eliminato: ’s
Eliminato: put
Eliminato: to be
JUSTICE OF PEACE (formal British English)
“I have been called upon to resolve the dispute between Ms. Mary Richardson and Ms. Kimberly
Morton which ended up as a racial confrontation. As a matter of fact, the refusal by Ms. Kimberly
Morton to replace the broken fountain pen has resulted in an incident of racial abuse which cannot
be disregarded / overlooked. I have investigated the entire incident and I believe that the court
cannot turn a blind-eye to such an issue. On these grounds I rule that Ms. Kimberly Morton must
compensate the complaintant for the moral injury she caused to the amount of 1,000 US /
American dollars. The complainant also claims costs.”
Eliminato: at
Eliminato: mentality
Eliminato: of this situation
Eliminato: fact
Eliminato: race
Eliminato: whole issue
Eliminato: tribunal
Eliminato: should
Eliminato: consider
Eliminato: should
Eliminato: in
Eliminato: an
Eliminato: United States