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Pratchett does not put too much effort to create equality. The female characters in the story has their own way to be equal by having the same rights and role as
the male characters do.
d. Exposing Unusual Diction
Terry Pratchett exposes the unusual dictions as the last method he uses to deconstruct the conventional images. The unusual dictions here can be
defined as the words, phrases, and expressions that are not usually used in children’s literature. In the first objective of the research, there are two
characters that have been deconstructed in The Wee Free Men: the heroes and the witches. However, this research takes a specialty on the dictions that are
used by the heroes, which is the Nac Mac Feegle clan. To support the new image of hero, Pratchett uses several words and dictions that are not commonly
used in children’s stories. “How can you survive that?” Tiffany asked. The very small pilot tried
to look her up and down, but only managed to look her up and farther up.
“Who’s the wee bigjob who knows sich a lot aboot aviation?” he
said. Rob Anybody coughed. “She’s the hag, Hamish. Spawn o’
Granny Aching. ” Hamish’s expression changed to a look of terror.
Pratchett, 2003: 127 The Feegles are found quite often to use the words or expressions that
have never been found in common fairy tales. In the quotation, one of the Feegles uses the word ‘bigjob’. That word usually is used in informal occasion
to refer something unpleasant, annoying, and even disgusting, as the real meaning of ‘bigjob’ is ‘feces’. That Feegle refers a child as a ‘bigjob’. It is
considered rude and odd, as in common fairy tales, a child is pictured as a
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blessing. In classical fairy tales, there is no normal person or even a hero calls a child as a ‘bigjob’.
“And he was waving a fist at her and shouting: ‘Crivens Gang awa’ oot o’ here, ye daft wee hinny ’Ware the green heid’” Pratchett, 2003: 5. The
datum occurs when the Feegles try to warn Tiffany about a green head monster coming to attack human world. The expression ‘waving a fist’ is not commonly
used by a hero when they greet someone. In common fairy tales, a normal person, let alone a hero, usually waves their hand instead of a fist. The gesture
indicates the rudeness, as a fist usually is considered as a fighting gesture. It can also be seen that they use swear words. ‘Crivens’ is one of the swearing words
that are used by the Feegles. It indicates the flaw of the heroes through the dictions they use. Such dictions are rarely found in children’s literature. A hero
is often portrayed as the role model for children. However, the Feegles are found swearing in the story. By employing the unusual dictions, it implies that
the Feegles are not the perfect, flawless heroes. In classical fairy tales, heroes commonly speak politely using proper
diction and normal tone. However, in The Wee Free Men, the heroes the Feegles, use peculiar, gruesome, or even rude dictions. In addition, the Feegles
also use their own language that is not translated throughout the story. “Crivens We wanna coo beastie, no’ a ship beastie” “Ach, one’s as
goo’ as t’other C’mon, lads, a’ grab aholt o’ a leg” “Aye, all the coos are inna shed, we tak what we can
” “Keep it doon, keep it doon, will ya
” “Ach, who’s listenin’? Okay, lads—yan…tan…teth’ra”
Pratchett, 2003: 69
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It is taken when the Feegles are caught red-handed stealing a sheep. Although it seems like they use other language, they actually speak English.
That quotation can be translated as: “Crivens We want a cow beastie, not a
sheep beastie ” “Ah, one is as good as the other Come on, lads, all grab and
hold of a leg ” “Aye, all the cows are in a shed, we take what we can” “Keep it
down, keep it down, will you ” “Ah, who is listening? Okay, lads—
one…two…three” However, in the novel, there is no explanation about the complete sentences that are used by the Feegles. They also use obsolete
numbering in English when they count. “Yan, tan, tethera” is the sheep counting
type used by the elders. The common fairy tales usually use the general numbering, as they are generally understood.
Other unusual dictions in The Wee Free Men can also be found when Rob Anybody talks to Tifanny’s baby brother. “’Noo just you bide there like a
good boy and no yellin’ for sweeties or Uncle Rob’ll gie ye a skelpin’ across the earhole, okay?’ Wentworth chuckled.” Pratchett, 2003: 301. A hero is usually
known as the honorable man who keeps their language and tone when they talk, especially when they talk to children. Nevertheless, the Feegles uses unusual
dictions like ‘give you a scalping across the ear hole’ when they talk to little kid.
Usually, that rude expression is uttered by the villain. Yet, in The Wee Free Men, the heroes use that expression to emphasize their new image.
From the analysis above, it can be drawn out that Pratchett has exposed the unusual dictions as his last method to deconstruct the old images of heroes
and witches. The exposure of the unusual dictions is aimed to support the image
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of flawed heroes. The dictions are related to rudeness and sarcasm. Those kinds of dictions are not commonly used in children’s literature. However, Pratchett
uses it to strengthen the image of imperfect heroes.
B. Discussion
