Vidal Gore — Eighteen Seventy [418]

After some thought, he agreed that there has been a change in the way our countrymen speak. He thinks it might be the influence of those popular fundamentalist church groups that go in for “canting”—the word for praying aloud in a whining nasal voice. — Vidal Gore, Eighteen Seventy, 418

Note

This passage uses a conversational tone to explore cultural differences in speech patterns, revealing attitudes toward American identity while showcasing the characters’ introspection and nostalgia.