Final answer:
In the novel Inkling by Kenneth Oppel, Ethan's mom gives him a dictionary which makes Inkling, a character made of ink, talk in a funny way because it consumes and mimics the words. This highlights the influence of language on Inkling's speech and personality, and serves as a humorous lesson on vocabulary and communication for middle school students.
Step-by-step explanation:
The book that Ethan's mom gave him that resulted in Inkling talking funny is from a children's novel named Inkling by Kenneth Oppel. This incident occurs when Inkling, a blob of ink that can read, eat words, and mimic speech, consumes pages from a dictionary. Because Inkling absorbs the characteristics and style of whatever it consumes, when it eats pages from the dictionary, its speech becomes distorted with a barrage of words and definitions, making it sound very odd and amusing to Ethan and others around.
Inkling is a particularly engaging character because it doesn't just read words but gets shaped by them. This creative concept can help middle school students learn how language and vocabulary can influence thinking and communication. Through the humor in Inkling's situation, students can enjoy exploring language in a fun and informal way. The book Inkling cleverly plays with the idea that consuming different types of literature can greatly affect someone's - or something's - personality and speech. It's a lively example of how reading can enrich one's vocabulary, but also a reminder that context and understanding are essential for effective communication. Overall, the interaction with the dictionary pages provides a humorous plot device that drives home the importance of language in shaping thoughts and expressions.