The characters in this story speak in English. Do you think this is their language? What clues are there in the story about the language its characters must be speaking in?
No, English is certainly not the actual language of the characters. The story is originally set in France, and the characters are French, so they must be speaking in French. The English text we read is a translated version of the original French story.
There are several distinct clues in the story that indicate the characters speak French. Firstly, the titles used for the characters, such as M. for Monsieur and Mme for Madame, are formal French forms of address. Secondly, the characters possess traditional French names like Matilda Loisel, Mme Forestier, and Jeanne.
Furthermore, the setting of the story provides strong cultural clues. The mention of the Champs-Elysees, a famous avenue in Paris, firmly places the narrative in France. Finally, the glossary explicitly explains that a sou is a former French coin of low value.
All these cultural and linguistic markers clearly establish that the native language of the characters is French, not English. The English dialogue is merely a translation for readers.
Explanation
The textbook context provides clear evidence that the story 'The Necklace' is originally French. The glossary explicitly defines 'M.' as Monsieur, 'Mme' as Madame, and 'sou' as a French coin. The characters' names (Loisel, Forestier, Jeanne) and the setting (Champs-Elysees) are also distinctly French, confirming that the characters speak French, and the English text is a translation.