Defoe uses dialect to differentiate Robinson's manner of speaking from that of Xury and Friday. This is, in part, for the purpose of their character development. It is also intended to give the novel an aura of exoticism. Aware of his audience, Defoe knows that much of the appeal of his novel lies in its ability to transport the reader away to distant lands. Including characters who speak in an unusual manner is a relatively simple way to ensure that readers will feel they are living vicariously through Robinson's travels. The dialects of these two characters also allow Robinson to retain the upper hand, as he is their master both in practice and in language.
Xury's English is simple and features obvious grammatical errors, which Robinson accentuates in his narration: "Then we give them the shoot gun, says Xury, laughing, make them run wey; such English Xury spoke by conversing among us slaves." Although it is quite clear what Xury means, Robinson often takes care to translate his words for the reader. In Chapter 3, Robinson reenacts Xury's dialect in order to have the opportunity to interpret the meaning of what the boy is saying:
Xury, says I, you shall go on shore and kill him; Xury look'd frighted, and said, Me kill! he eat me at one mouth; one mouthful he meant
Like Xury, Friday speaks a different English than Robinson. Unlike Xury, however, Friday has only learned English from Robinson. All of the English he speaks has been fed to him singlehandedly by his so-called master—in fact, the second word Robinson teaches Friday is "master." In Chapter 20, Defoe includes quite a bit of direct dialogue between Robinson and Friday. As Friday's English gets better and better, Robinson seeks to obtain more information from him about their location and his life as well as to evaluate his loyalty:
I call’d to him, and said, Friday, do not you wish yourself in your own country, your own nation? Yes, he said, I be much O glad to be at my own nation. What would you do there, said I, would you turn wild again, eat mens flesh again, and be a savage as you were before. He lookt full of concern, and shaking his head, said, No, no, Friday tell them to live good, tell them to pray God, tell them to eat corn bread, cattle flesh, milk, no eat man again: Why then, said I to him, They will kill you. He look’d grave at that, and then said, No, they no kill me, they willing love learn: He meant by this, they would be willing to learn.
As with Xury, Robinson translates Friday's simple grammatical errors for the reader, thereby emphasizing his own goodness and patience for understanding his companion. Robinson's language instruction goes hand in hand with his efforts to convert Friday and make him follow European customs. In the above passage, Robinson is testing Friday's English but also testing his convictions.
Being the speaker means being in power—this is something Robinson reveals an awareness of throughout the narrative. The reader can never directly hear from Xury or Friday, given that Robinson is the narrator. Even when the reader seems to be hearing from these characters first-hand, through direct dialogue, it is still Robinson who has reenacted their speech on the page. Thus, the words of Xury and Friday always ultimately belong to Robinson. He is the master of their speech.
Defoe uses dialect to differentiate Robinson's manner of speaking from that of Xury and Friday. This is, in part, for the purpose of their character development. It is also intended to give the novel an aura of exoticism. Aware of his audience, Defoe knows that much of the appeal of his novel lies in its ability to transport the reader away to distant lands. Including characters who speak in an unusual manner is a relatively simple way to ensure that readers will feel they are living vicariously through Robinson's travels. The dialects of these two characters also allow Robinson to retain the upper hand, as he is their master both in practice and in language.
Xury's English is simple and features obvious grammatical errors, which Robinson accentuates in his narration: "Then we give them the shoot gun, says Xury, laughing, make them run wey; such English Xury spoke by conversing among us slaves." Although it is quite clear what Xury means, Robinson often takes care to translate his words for the reader. In Chapter 3, Robinson reenacts Xury's dialect in order to have the opportunity to interpret the meaning of what the boy is saying:
Xury, says I, you shall go on shore and kill him; Xury look'd frighted, and said, Me kill! he eat me at one mouth; one mouthful he meant
Like Xury, Friday speaks a different English than Robinson. Unlike Xury, however, Friday has only learned English from Robinson. All of the English he speaks has been fed to him singlehandedly by his so-called master—in fact, the second word Robinson teaches Friday is "master." In Chapter 20, Defoe includes quite a bit of direct dialogue between Robinson and Friday. As Friday's English gets better and better, Robinson seeks to obtain more information from him about their location and his life as well as to evaluate his loyalty:
I call’d to him, and said, Friday, do not you wish yourself in your own country, your own nation? Yes, he said, I be much O glad to be at my own nation. What would you do there, said I, would you turn wild again, eat mens flesh again, and be a savage as you were before. He lookt full of concern, and shaking his head, said, No, no, Friday tell them to live good, tell them to pray God, tell them to eat corn bread, cattle flesh, milk, no eat man again: Why then, said I to him, They will kill you. He look’d grave at that, and then said, No, they no kill me, they willing love learn: He meant by this, they would be willing to learn.
As with Xury, Robinson translates Friday's simple grammatical errors for the reader, thereby emphasizing his own goodness and patience for understanding his companion. Robinson's language instruction goes hand in hand with his efforts to convert Friday and make him follow European customs. In the above passage, Robinson is testing Friday's English but also testing his convictions.
Being the speaker means being in power—this is something Robinson reveals an awareness of throughout the narrative. The reader can never directly hear from Xury or Friday, given that Robinson is the narrator. Even when the reader seems to be hearing from these characters first-hand, through direct dialogue, it is still Robinson who has reenacted their speech on the page. Thus, the words of Xury and Friday always ultimately belong to Robinson. He is the master of their speech.
