Language and Style in Cartoons: a Case Study of Ben 10

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze the language and style used in Ben 10; a Television cartoon programme that has generated interest from the Kenyan children. The study focuses on twenty episodes from four series of Ben 10. The study was informed by the fact that, children who have access to film and a good command of the English language are gradually changing preference from literature in print form to film and especially cartoons. The few scholars that have analyzed cartoons as an alternative way of accessing Literature have concentrated on those cartoons watched by children aged between three and six years. Cartoons watched by children above six years have hardly received critical attention. This study analyzes the language and style of cartoons watched by children above six years. The study has four objectives: to evaluate the use of fantasy in Ben 10, analyze the language and style employed in Ben 10, analyze Ben 10 series as a form of popular culture and identify children’s views on Ben 10. The study seeks to investigate the hypotheses that, there is a close relationship between fantasy and reality, there is a unique language in Ben 10 that arouses children’s interest, Ben 10 is a form of popular culture and Ben 10 causes children to form certain views that they articulate. Using the theory of children’s literature and semiotics, the study looks at the cartoon as a genre of children’s literature where children take up the main roles, and the themes addressed appeal to children. It does this using semiotics, a theory that looks at the signs and sign processes employed in a text. This study has employed critical reading of secondary texts, watching Ben 10 series and interviewing children aged between six and ten years and analyzing the findings.