How we cite our quotes: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
So much depends on the tone of voice. (2.8.16)
Getting the right tone of voice requires careful attention to the way people speak. Nathan Price pays no attention to the way people speak, and so the varying cadences of his preacher-speak end up causing more harm than good.
Quote #5
You wouldn't even get as far as breakfast before running out of paper. You'd have to explain the words, and then the words for the words. (3.5.130)
Leah talks about the impossibility of explaining Africa in a letter home. Hey, Barbara Kingsolver had to write an almost-600-page book about the Congo, and she's just scratched the surface! There's a lot more to communication than just translating the words.
Quote #6
To get one good connection made, you have to understand the Kituba, the Lingala, the Bembe, Kunyi, Vili, Ndingi, and the bleeding talking drums. (3.8.85)
It might seem like the Congo, at just a fraction of the size of the U.S., should be able to get its political eggs into one basket. However, imagine if every state in the U.S. had its own language. (And we're not just talking about the great "pop" vs. "soda" debate.) Communication and cooperation would be next to impossible.