the writer also observes the sociolinguistic influence of three characters in using their varieties through their participants, settings, topic, status, etc.
Observing the Caribbean English spoken in Jean Rhys‟s Wide Sargasso Sea is a challenge for the writer to study more deeply about the variation and the uniqueness
of this language. The reason is motivating the writer to make this study. The writer believes that this study may help others to explore more deeply about Caribbean
English as a variety of English worldwide and distinguish between the standard and non-standard English language.
B. Problem Formulation
There are two questions used to map and limit or focus the study. The
questions are as follows:
1. What kinds of Caribbean English dialect are used by Christophine, Amélie,
and Daniel Cosway in Rhys‟s Wide Sargasso Sea? 2.
What sociolinguistic factors influence three characters in using this variety of English?
C. Objectives of the Study
Based on two problem formulation, there are two objectives of this study. The first objective of this study is to find out the Caribbean English dialect spoken by
Christophine, Amélie, and Daniel Cosway in Jean Rhys‟s Wide Sargasso Sea. The
second is to observe the sociolinguistic influence of their spoken in the novel.
D. Definition of Terms
There are three definitions used to limit this study. Caribbean English.
Nordquist defines the term Caribbean English as “a general term for the varieties of English language used in the Caribbean archipelago
and on the Caribbean coast of Central America including Nicaragua, Panama, and Guyana”
http:grammar.about.comodcg Caribbean-English-term.htm ; 2006:
September 24, 2014. Varieties. Wardaugh
defines varieties as a specific term of „human speech patterns‟ consisting of sounds, words, grammatical features which are uniquely
associated with some external factors such as geographical area or social group Wardaugh, 1992: 22.
Characters. According to Abram, characters are “the person presented in
dramatic or narrative work, who are interpreted by the reader as being endowed with moral, dispositional, and emotional qualities that are expressed in what they say
– the dialogue
– and what they do – the action” Abrams, 1985: 23.
5
CHAPTER II REVIEW OF LITERATURE
This chapter is divided into three parts. The first part is the review of related studies. This part presents some previous or similar researches which are related to
this study through the object or the focus of the study. The second part is the review of related theories. This part presents some theories that are useful for the writer in
analyzing the data. The last part is the theoretical framework. This part shows the contribution between the theories and reviews in solving the problems of the study.
A. Review of Related Studies
There are four related studies used to compare and relate with this study. The first one is an article entitled
„What is English‟ - The discussion about poems in non- standard varieties of English: John Agard‟s Listen Mr. Oxford and Tom Leonard‟s
Right inuff, by Jill and Charles Hadfield 2005, published in “ELT Journal” volume
59 no. 3, July 2005. In this article, Hadfield displays two poems with two different varieties Glasgow dialect and Caribbean English. Two languages appeared in two
poems are identical to Standard English, although some sentences and phrases are radically different. Each of them is
written by the uneducated people. Agard‟s poem uses some linguistic notions of Caribbean English syntax, grammar, tenses, suffix,
and rhyme, while Leonard‟s poem uses Scots‟ speech in spelling, grammar, and
vocabulary to represent Glasgow dialect in the working class. Both of poems give a
voice, identity, and legitimacy of non-standard Englishes to speak and provide a critique of those who would deny them.
The second one is an undergraduate thesis entitled “A Dialect Feature Seen in
the Structure of Black English Spoken by Troy Maxon and its Effect toward the Understanding
of the Story of Wilson‟s Fences” by Bernadeta Adityaningsih Nugrahani from the Department of English Letters, Sanata Dharma University
2008. This undergraduate thesis studies the structure of Black English and the effects of Black English used by the major character in Fences. The writer of the
undergraduate thesis uses the qualitative method to gather the data by library studies and field research. For library studies, she analyzes the features of Black English in
the play. For the field research, she conducts questionnaires and distributes them to anyone who has enough understanding about Black English. In conclusion, she has
found ten features of Black English structure, and based on eight respondents, they understand the meaning, plot, and atmosphere of the play.
Another undergraduate thesis is “The Characters‟ Speech Styles and Their
Social Backgrounds in Mark T wain‟s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by
Wivina Tomas from the Department of English Letters, Sanata Dharma University 2007. The purpose of the writer of the undergraduate thesis in conducting the study
is to find out the varieties of English language and their social backgrounds by three main characters in the novel. In the analysis, the writer
of the undergraduate thesis analyzes the
three main characters‟ utterances by conducting their speeches based on „who spoke to whom‟ way and describing their social backgrounds using
sociolinguistic theories. In conclusion, the writer of the undergraduate thesis concludes Huckleberry Finn, Jim, and Tom Sawyer are the main characters that have
different dialects such as Southern dialect and Southern Negro dialect. In the social background analysis, the writer the undergraduate thesis concludes that Huck and Jim
are the people who are uneducated and poor, while Tom is educated. The last undergraduate thesis is written by Citra Rinanty entitled
“The Varieties of English Spoken by Wolter Morel in D.H Lawre
nce‟s Sons and Lovers”, from the Department of English Letters, Sanata Dharma University 2006. The
purpose of the writer of the undergraduate thesis in conducting the study is to analyze the varieties of English spoken by Wolter Morel. There are some steps to accomplish
the study such as collecting the data from the utterances of Walter Morel and categorizing into Standard English and Non-standard English. She applies the
theories to answer two problems. Based on data, she concludes that from 126 utterances of Wolter Morel, there are approximately 75.4 of Non-standard English
changes and the rest of them are considered Standard English changes according to the setting, addressee, topic, status, formality, and function.
Based on three studies and an article above, the writer has got some suggestion, theories, and influences to develop the study. The focus of the study is the
Caribbean English spoken by three characters in Jean Rhys‟s Wide Sargasso Sea and their social backgrounds that influence them to speak in those varieties.
B. Review of Related Theories
