description, but in a more curt manner, when he states he will not.
tell his "whole goddam autobiography or anything." From the start.
the reader picks up Holden's hostility and unwillingness to share.
his views strictly by his use of language (Salzman, 1991).
From the last two examples, another colloquialism can be seen.
Holden has a habit of ending his descriptions with tag phrases.
such as "and all" or "or anything." (Salzman, 1991). Not only does.
Holden speak like this in the beginning of the novel, but throughout.
the book, making this pattern a part of his character. One could.
imagine Holden frequently ending his sentences with "and all,".
realizing it is a character trait since not all teenagers used that.
phrase. So the "and all" tag to Holden's speech served to make.
his speech authentic and individual. (Salzman, 1991). Salinger.
intentionally used such speech patterns to help individualize.
Holden, yet to also make him a believable teenager of the early.
1950's.
Another example of how Holden's speech helped define his.
character is how he constantly had to confirm any affirmation he.
made, as if even he did not quite believe himself. Such.
reconfirmations include phrases such as ".if you want to know the.
truth," or ".it really does." Holden says the first phrase several.
times. "I have no wind, if you want to know the truth," "I'm pacifist, if.
you want to know the truth," and a variation: "She had a lot of sex.
appeal, too, if you really want to know." In each of the above.
instances, Holden makes a statement then feels compelled to.