VLVL Narrative agency and register are separate features (was ...

[Terrance]

> 
> > Agreed. take a look at the long paragraph on page 29. detached. but
> > notice the language--ay muere (italics), badass, upping the ante (Z and
> > H relationship is often described as a game of cards or a gamble, in
> > terms of virginity lost etc).
> 
> I think the "*ay muere*" is the narrative voice adopting, momentarily,
> Hector's idiomatic Spanish. Note how it is defined in plain English right
> afterwards. So, yes, it's Hector's "voice", mingled in with the detached
> narration.

Kinda reminds me of "mimicry." 

Mimicry: a deliberate imitation of the speech and mannerisms of someone
else may be used for authenticity, ridicule, or rhetorical effect. For
instance, when ever rappers quote somebody, they attempt to quote in the
tone of voice, gestures, and particular idiom and language
characteristics of that person. A black female complains to a friend
about her man, for instance: 

"Like he come tellin me this old mess bout 
[speaker shifts to restatin and imitatin] 
'Well, baby, if you just give me a chance, Ima have it together pretty
soon.' 
That's his word, you know, always talkin bout having something
'together.'"
Occasionally, the mimicking takes the form of a title or line from a
song: "Told you she
wasn't none of you friend; [singing] 'smiling faces' ..." 

Smitherman, Geneva _talking that talk_ Routledge, NY, 2000