How does the author use language in the novel, The Alice Network?

The language in this novel illustrates the different cultures of the characters. The characters are differentiated by the way they talk. Finn, for instance, is Scottish. His dialect and word choice is drastically different from the other characters in the novel. An example of this comes in one of Finn’s comments to Eve and Charlie: “Done with your blethering, ladies? … It’s a braw morning for a drive” (391). Another example can be found in this conversation between Finn and Charlie: “‘You should go in,’ Finn said abruptly. ‘Before you get all drookit.’ / ‘Yank, here. I don’t know what that means.’ / ‘Before you get drenched. Not good for the bairn, Mrs. McGowan’” (233-234). The term “bairn” (234) refers to the baby Charlie is carrying. Charlie refers to herself as a “Yank” (233) a derogative term used by the English for a person from the United States. Eve first called Charlie a Yank when she appeared on her doorstep one night looking for help in finding her cousin. Charlie has picked up the term and uses it to describe herself. Eve’s language is differentiated by her frequent use of curse words as well as her stammer. When Charlie first arrives at Eve’s house Eve asks her “Who are you, and what the bloody fuck are you doing in my house?” (13). Eve’s stammer is less evident when she is angry. In other times, however, it is debilitating. When she talks to Cameron, for instance, she tries to tell him she wants to fight but just cannot get the word out: “I want to prove myself capable, to everyone who ever thought me simpleminded or weak because I cannot speak straight. I want to f-f-f—I want to f-f-f-f—” (32).