CHAPTER 2:
"Roland Weary and the scout were safe in a ditch and Weary growled at Billy, 'Get out of the road, you dumb motherfucker.' The last word was still a novelty in the speech of white people in 1944." (page 34)
The term, "motherfucker," is not uncommon to hear among the younger generation in our present society. Although it's still considered a curse word, more people are using it as apart of their everyday language. However, it wasn't always this way. The passage from page 34 is evidence that vernacular language is constantly developing and changing over time.
The English language is a prime example of this. All over the world different dialects of English are being spoken. The reason for this, is that the English language developed differently in each location it was spoken at. The origin of languages is unknown, however it is clear that language reflects the culture of a people. Language is how a society expresses its ideas, thoughts, passions, etc. Different words convey different meanings. Each society has a unique way of expressing itself, which is why language varies from region to region and from generation to generation.
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