Textual Analysis of Sam Selvon’sThe Cricket Match

Linguistics complements the study of Literature. One site even went on to illustrate that if “Literature is like a drink. Linguistics is like analyzing its ingredients, where they are mined and possibly the politics of mining” (Quora). One might add that Linguistics is also the study of the ingredients and how they get together to perform the functions that they do i.e. to hold the entire drink together among other functions. Discourse Analysis is a branch of Linguistics. The University of Sheffield states, “Discourse can be defined as language beyond the level of a sentence, language behaviours linked to social practices and language as a system of thought. Discourse Analysis (DA) is a modern discipline of the social sciences that covers a wide variety of different socio-linguistic approaches” (University of Sheffield).Literary Linguistics is an integral part to Discourse Analysis. It is the study of literature from a linguistic perspective. Literary Linguistics is the study and interpretation of texts in regard to their linguistic and tonal style.Literary Linguistics is important to Discourse Analysis because it provides a system, structure and allows the researcher to acquire evidence for the thoughts expressed on a Literature piece. Literary Linguistics provides evidence. “Literary linguistics is not a set a discovery procedures or blueprints, but a principled way of examining texts with explicit criteria that produce verifiable results. It is a perspective for asking questions on how the language of the text contributes to create certain effects” (Azevedo 3).As pre-service teachers, this is an invaluable source of information. We have a responsibility to guide the students as they explore the books on the syllabus. Literary Linguistics provides a firm foundation for this as well as equipping teachers with the skills to be able to identify differences in the parts of a story. Further, “They can deliberate on linkages in children’s literature (paradigmatic, syntagmatic and pragmatic) as cohesive devices, as well as passages for dominant and subversive ideologies” (Bradshaw 14). Literary Linguistics contains two main proponents: Conceptual and Perspectual Perspective. This essayprovides an examination of the perceptual and conceptual perspectives in Selvon’s The Cricket Match.

            Perceptual Perspective is one aspect of Literary Linguistics. Perceptual Perspective relates to how “linguistic co-ordinates of space and time anchor the fictional speaker in his or her fictional world, which, in turn, provides a window and vantage point for readers” (Bradshaw). In other words, Perceptual Perspective uses space and time to create the world which the fictional character operates in. The spatial point of view deals with the viewing position assumed by the narrator of a story. It is the camera angle adopted in a text. Temporal point of view deals with dimensions of time. It relates generally to the impression which a reader gains of events “moving rapidly or slowly, in a continuous chain or isolated segments” (Bradshaw). These are two aspects that provide the picture for us when we read.

            Selvon deals expertly with Perceptual Perspective in The Cricket Match. Selvon creates spatial cohesion in this story. The plot takes place in one place, however, by the skillful use of space, the author makes division and creates cohesion by using locatives. He creates a division and widens space early in the short story when he differentiates the English “fellars” from the West Indian Cricket 11. At once the reader’s mind is open to the space between England and the West Indies (Selvon 91). We begin to envision two different lands. ‘Back home’ (Selvon 91) is an example of a substitution for the West Indies that the user has to be skilled enough to recognize. The story is flowing. “Where I come from” (Selvon 91)  is another such example. By his use of different spaces, Selvon creates not only distance and division but he highlights the cultural differences among the men. Using these techniques, he also creates longevity and continuity. The reader recognizes that the time is longer than the actual plot in the story and we also see that previous activity has affected the character and plot of this story. Some examples of spacial deixis are where I come from, go down there, next door to Ramadhin, in the street, living in the suburbs, from the West Indies, where I live, come down our way, in the canteen, in Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, up here in England, come my way, in Algernon room, over a fence, we go there, go and play, in the corner, in front a mirror, on the village green, at Lord’s, right out of the field and fall in the road, fielding silly-mid- on-square-leg, in the local pub, in the other county, come back, go back, scatter about and come down our way.

            Temporal point of view involves dimensions of time and relates generally to the impression which a reader gains of events “moving rapidly or slowly, in a continuous chain or isolated segments” (Bradshaw 18). Examples of temporal deixis employed in this story are: the time when, all day, every day, meanwhile, cricket is breakfast and dinner (while not an adverb of time, the context implies frequency), that was when he was a boy, since that time, all day long, one morning, accustom, afterwards, these days, Wednesday night, one time, Saturday, later on, next Saturday and now. All of these events take place in the space of a week. From Monday- Saturday of one week during the time “when the West Indies cricket eleven come to England” (Selvon 91). On investigation and further close reading of the passage, one might even deduce that the entire event took place between mid spring and late autumn because of the culture of the English, the cricket pitch was green and the rain starting to fall. Cricket could not be played in Winter and it was the English’s custom to play cricket around this time. Selvon’s use of temporal deixis allows the reader to build a realistic time plot as they read the story.

            Conceptual Perspective gives insight into the mental positioning of the speaker/ author of the discourse in terms of viewing location and focalization. In psychological point of view (POV), this story falls under the heterodiegetic POV. This is where the narrator is outside the story. I say this because the narrator is not a character in this story. He is standing outside and relating the story. In Genette’s Focalisation, this story stands at Zero Focalisation because the writer is omniscient and says more than any of the characters know. For instance, the narrator relates what Charles is thinking, which is more than other character knows. “That was a wonderful shot,’ Charles tell Algernon grudgingly. Charles still had a feeling that the boys was only talkers, but so much controversy raging that he didn’t know what to say”(Selvon 94). In Fowler’s Four Part Model, this story is Internal Type B because we have an “omniscient narrator who claims knowledge of what is going on in character’s minds and the focus is on the characters and not the vantage point from which they are described. Further, the author provides an account of the thoughts, reactions and perceptions of characters” (Bradshaw 30). 

Conceptual Perspective extends to the Ideological POV. The ideological point of view“gives insight into the values, conceptions, assumptions and beliefs of the speaker/author and frequently those of the audience’ (Bradshaw 18).The modal systems used in this piece are done very effectively. “You could ask him, he might. And what about Williams? And Wilky? And Heads? Those boys should know how to play” (Selvon 92). This dialogue seems to represent a great deal of the modality inherent in this short story. Selvon skillfully engages the reader and exposes the reader to a variety of emotions in these short lines. ‘Could’ suggests ability while ‘might’ suggests that he is not sure however ‘should’ suggests that they ought to. These changes are interesting because it shows the changes in Algernon’s thinking. Previously, he was hedging and portraying confidence but in these lines, we see the insecurities inherent in Algerrnon about the task ahead. He almost seems that he is trying to convince himself. In a similar strand, the code choice is a mixture between the Standard English and the Creole. I believe that the Creole is used because of the intended audience as well as it is consistent with who the perceived narrator ‘might be.’ The narrator is definitely not an Englishman. He is more probably someone nearer to Algernon’s circle of acquaintances, that is, if he were not omniscient. Selvon uses a lot of cricket jargon. This falls into lexical choice. The cricket jargon gives it validity and further adds to a cohesive piece. Further into the ideological perspective of the piece is the only generic statement used. “Well in truth and in fact, the people in this country believe that everybody who come from the West Indies at least like the game even if they can’t play it” (Selvon 91). This generic statement gives insight into the thinking of the Englishmen and maybe even the migrated West Indians themselves. In addition to the points mentioned before, Selvon adds validity and creates a complete story with the mention of “Walcott” and “Ramadhin’ (Selvon 91).

Literary Linguistics is a valuable skill that teachers of Literature must hone. It is necessity that one be able to show the relationship between the aspects of language used and the stances we take when discussing (orally or written) Literature. Sam Selvon’s The Cricket Match is ripe with examples of Perspectual and Conspectual Perspectives which come together to create cohesion, validity and enjoyment in the story which leaves the reader fulfilled.

Works Cited

Azevedo, Milton M. Literary Linguistics in the Context of a Literature Department. Publication. Berkeley: U of California, 2009. Print.

"Baylor University || English Department || Linguistics."Baylor University || English Department || Linguistics. Ed. Jeannette Marsh. Baylor University, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2015.

Bradshaw, Iris, Dr. PowerPoint Presentation. N.p.: n.p., 2 Oct. 2015. PPT.

Selvon, Samuel. Ways of Sunlight. New York: St. Martin's, 1957. Print.

"What Is Discourse Analysis? - All About Linguistics - Original."What Is Discourse Analysis? - All About Linguistics - Original. N.p., 23 July 2013. Web. 12 Nov. 2015.