A Visit from the Goon Squad
by Jennifer Egan
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A Visit from the Goon Squad: Dialect 1 key example

Key Examples in A Visit from the Goon Squad

Chapter 13: Pure Language
Explanation and Analysis—Pure Language:

Chapter 13 of A Visit from the Goon Squad takes place in a strange yet near future, with communication between people transformed by the advent of new technology. Alex's conversations with Bennie (now his boss) and Lulu (Bennie's assistant) are filled with unfamiliar vocabulary and shorthand, exhibiting Egan's vision for the dialect of the future.

Much of this futuristic dialect—the "pure language"—expresses itself in new slang. A strange vocabulary fills Alex and Bennie's speech as if it were second nature:

"We released this a couple months ago," Bennie said. "You've heard of him, Scotty Hausmann?" He's doing well with the pointers." Alex glances over at Rebecca, who scorned the term "pointer" and would politely but firmly correct anyone who used it to describe Cara-Ann.