Final answer:
Cristina Garcia's choice of language in 'First Generation' of Dreaming in Cuban utilizes baseball terminology to suggest the role of fate and chance in history, neither overtly optimistic nor pessimistic, but rich in metaphorical significance.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the excerpt from “First Generation” of Dreaming in Cuban by Cristina Garcia, the author’s use of words such as “vagaries of sports”, “wicked curveball”, and the reference to “El Líder” starting a revolution, demonstrates her choice of language which juxtaposes American baseball terminology with a historic revolutionary narrative. Garcia’s word choice and use of sports metaphor subtly suggest the role of chance or “fate” in the direction of an individual’s life and, by extension, the history of a nation. Here, the term “wicked curveball” is particularly apt, as it not only connotes a talented pitcher’s skill but also the unpredictable and abrupt changes in fortune that can occur in an individual’s life or a nation’s history. Thus, Garcia does not use short and forceful words to assert a pessimistic opinion on fate, nor a formal academic language. The tone is not inherently optimistic either; rather, the language is rich with metaphorical significance that reflects Garcia’s voice in regard to fate and historical outcomes.