Formal Language In Letter From Birmingham Jail

In “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”, Martin Luther King Jr. uses a passionate yet hopeful tone to bring awareness of the injustices suffered by African Americans and provoke change for equality to his fellow clergymen. King was an extremist who was arrested during a peaceful protest, so he writes a letter explaining that he wants to change society’s view from tolerating segregation to fighting it. In the beginning of the text, Martin Luther King Jr. uses formal language to portray the unjust treatment of African Americans and the importance of making a change in society. King utilizes formal language when he says “I want to try to answer your statement in what I hope will be patient and reasonable terms”. This shows that King is trying to prove he is equal to his fellow whiter clergymen by speaking professionally. When King says “It is unfortunate that demonstrations are taking place in Birmingham, but it is even more unfortunate that the city’s white power structure left the negro community with no alternative” he is further using formal language to show that he had no choice but to take action. This could be considered an example of cause and effect, as it shows that …show more content…
uses colloquial language throughout the middle of the text to show the familiarity of the abuse African Americans endure by showing a passionate tone. King uses colloquial language when he says “Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever. The yearning for freedom eventually manifests itself”. By saying this, King is explaining that eventually all African Americans will be prepared to fight for their freedom. King states “I suppose I should have realized that few members of the oppressor race can understand the deep groans and yearnings of the oppressed race”. When he says this, King shows that the oppressed cannot be understood when the oppressors are constantly inflicting punishment upon them. African Americans endured abusive behavior, as portrayed in King’s