Diction

The people whose lives intersect with Rama are educated for the most part, but their language is accessible to all. The people in the story speak plainly, even when heated political debate breaks out. The author of the letter, Ramatoulaye, is clearly educated and this is reflected in her writing and her vocabulary, though again she expresses herself with simplicity. The importance of the simplicity of language is that Mariama Bâ wants her novel to be accessible to everyone, even if they have not had the opportunity to enjoy further education as she did.