Let’s talk about White Teeth
1. Zadie Smith is good at writing various dialects. Here is an example of how Hortense, from Jamaica, speaks: “Well, don’ look so shock. It a very satisfactory arrangement. Women need a man ‘bout de house, udderwise ting an’ ting get messy.” You get the idea. I can’t help but read it in her accent, and it’s great. It sounds as though she actually knows people who speak like this; not like she’s just trying to copy what she THINKS it should sound like. 2. I don’t know what to call this ...