How does the author use language in the novel, Land of Love and Drowning?

The language switches between American English and Caribbean English, which is based on English Creole. The author is from St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, where most of "Land of Love and Drowning" takes place. Her Caribbean language likely holds great meaning for her and was therefore important that part of the novel include the dialect.

The switch between the two dialects indicates a number of things. For one, the author lives between St. Thomas and America, so she is familiar with both styles of communicating. Second, the switch indicates the characters' tension between their homeland and the problems they have with it, how they wish some things could be different. Third, the switch between perfect English and Caribbean English shows the vast difference between the characters.