The language used by the main character James in the short story “The Sky Is Gray” by Ernest J٠ Gaines

ABSTRACT

Understanding Black Dialect is important for English students as well as far as for English teacher, because by understanding it well they are expected to be able to communicate properly. It is also needed in appreciating literary works, because the beauty of literary' work lies on its language too. Moreover, the dialect is closely related to story’ as well as its character’s sociocultural background.

The purpose of this study is primarily to find out the description of the language used by the main character James in the short story' ،،The Sky Is Gray”.

The analysis includes the use of grammatical structure and W'ord choice items as well the short story' objectives analysis using sociolinguistic approach which is supported by the theories related to language and its society, language and literature as well as Black Dialect characteristics.

The result that she finds is that the main character James in the short story ،،The Sky Is Gray” employs Black Dialect Grammatical structures and word choice items in the terms of the use of verb in past, the use of ١v'erb in accordance with its subject, the use of personal pronoun, the use of double and triple negatives, the use of simplified to be, the omission of to be, the use of be, been, seen, go’n, got, ain’t, as....as, gal and recon, and the use of cutting word likes ،cause, ،bout, ،tend, ،side, ،fore, ،cross, ،way, ،gainst, ،member, ،mount, andlayin.

Having through the discussion of the language used by the main character James in the short story' ،،The Sky' Is Gray”, the wTiter concludes that the main character James employs Black Dialect in his speech