While Selvon's writing is not entirely in Creole, he incorporates a significant amount of Creole vocabulary, grammar, and syntax, particularly in the speech of his working-class characters. This helps to convey their authenticity and cultural identity, as well as to create a specific Trinidadian voice.
Here are some examples of features from Trinidadian Creole found in Selvon's work:
* Vocabulary: Words like "man" (meaning "husband" or "partner"), "yuh" (meaning "you"), "cyah" (meaning "cannot"), "trink" (meaning "drink"), and "go 'pon" (meaning "continue").
* Grammar: Sentence structures like "He done go" (meaning "He has gone") and "Me ain't know" (meaning "I don't know").
* Pronunciation: Words like "bread" might be pronounced as "bred" and "water" might be pronounced as "watah".
In "The Village Washer," Selvon uses this blend of languages to portray the life of an ordinary Trinidadian woman, Annie. Her speech, while not entirely in Creole, features elements of the language that add to her characterization and the story's authenticity. This is a good example of Selvon's skillful use of language to represent the diversity and dynamism of Trinidadian society.