Final answer:
The use of language in the extract, through narrative techniques, linguistic variety, and figurative language, helps to convey family relationships, character development, and broader social contexts within the narrative.
Step-by-step explanation:
In studying how language is used to portray family relationships, we should consider various literary devices. The use of linguistic variety, as seen in Kate Chopin's "The Storm," creates depth in character development through figurative language. Authors like Mark Twain in "Huckleberry Finn" utilize narrative techniques such as third-person narration to convey characters' social status, physical appearance, and relationships without taking any character's perspective. In the provided extract, we find that the language employs varying tenses to demarcate between storytelling which happens in the literary present tense and nonliterary events discussed mostly in past tense. This technique allows readers to differentiate between the scenes and actions discussed.
Additionally, the passage discussing a child’s growing awareness uses fragmented and nonsensical language to replicate the development of a child's language skills. It reflects a child negotiating through the complexities of their sensations and expanding worldview. The introduction of the Vances and the concept of a "different father and mother," for example, help to illustrate the family dynamics and the child’s developing sense of social structures and kinship beyond their immediate family unit. Throughout these examinations of language, the family relationships are central to the narrative's development, offering insights into both individual characters and their relationships with others.
Figurative language, from metaphors to descriptive imagery, allows the reader to experience the story in a vivid and immersive way. The suggestion that Catherine Morland, described in great detail in a long paragraph, will be the central character in the novel is a structural decision that tells us about the importance of her relationship and character within the narrative. Each technique—whether it’s the use of descriptive detail, varied sentence structure, or narrative perspective—serves to enhance our understanding of the complex web of family relationships within a story.