How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
“You is trying to change the subject,” the Giant said sternly. “We is having interesting babblement about the taste of the human bean. The human bean is not a vegetable.” “Oh, but the bean is a vegetable,” Sophie said. “Not the human bean,” the Giant said. “The human bean has two legs and a vegetable has no legs at all.” (5.21-23)
Sophie’s still trying to understand the way the BFG speaks, which is why she gets confused about bean vs. being. Especially since a “bean” is something humans eat, and humans are basically bean-sized somethings that giants eat.
Quote #2
“They say the English is tasting ever so wonderfully of crodscollop.” “I’m not sure I quite know what that means,” Sophie said. “Meanings is not important,” said the BFG. “I cannot be right all the time. Quite often I is left instead of right.” (6.27-29)
You may not know what “crodscollop” is (it sounds like a kind of fish?), but according to the BFG, there’s something wonderful about the taste. So if you like fish, you’re in for a treat. Also, this is the first time he uses “left” to mean wrong. That’s a word that’s going to pop up a lot more, so keep an eye out for it.
Quote #3
“Your brain is full of rotten-wool.” “You mean cotton-wool,” Sophie said. “What I mean and what I say is two different things,” the BFG announced rather grandly. (8.12-14)
Here’s another example of the author’s clever wordplay. By replacing “cotton” with the word “rotten,” he makes the BFG’s insult sound like even more of a burn.
Quote #4
Once again that sad and winsome look came into the BFG’s eyes. “Words,” he said. “is oh such a twitch-tickling problem to me all my life. So you must simply try to be patient and stop squibbling. As I am telling you before, I know exactly what words I am wanting to say, but somehow or other they is always getting squiff-squiddled around.” (8.43)
In the BFG’s mind, he is speaking perfect English. It just comes out wrong. We’d feel bad for him if we didn’t enjoy getting a bit squiff-squiddled from time to time.
Quote #5
“I think you speak beautifully,” Sophie said.
“You do?” cried the BFG, suddenly brightening. “You really do?”
“Simply beautifully,” Sophie repeated.
“Well, that is the nicest present anybody is ever giving me in my whole life!” cried the BFG. “Are you sure you is not twiddling my leg?”
“Of course not,” Sophie said. “I just love the way you talk.”
“How wondercrump!” cried the BFG, still beaming. “How whoopsey-splunkers! How absolutely squiffling! I is all of a stutter.” (8.46-51)
If you weren’t sure how important speech is to the BFG, this should clue you in. One of his greatest desires is to speak well, and he’s got the whoopsey-splunkers to prove it.
Quote #6
The Bloodbottler pointed a finger as large as a tree-trunk at the BFG. “Runty little scumscrewer!” he shouted. “Piffling little swishfiggler! Squimpy little bottle-wart! Prunty little pogswizzler! I is now going to search the primroses.” (9.10)
Sticks and stones may break our bones, but words just make us burst into uncontrollable giggles. At least the way the giants toss insults at each other. On top of giving you some great new names to call your little brother (you know, in a nice way), the Bloodbottler’s insults show us that the BFG is not alone in his funny speech. All the giants speak this way.
Quote #7
The BFG stopped writing and raised his head slowly. His eyes rested on Sophie’s face. “I is telling you once before,” he said quietly, “that I is never having a chance to go to school. I is full of mistakes. They is not my fault. I do my best. You is a lovely little girl, but please remember that you is not exactly Miss Knoweverything yourself.” “I’m sorry,” Sophie said. “I really am. It is very rude of me to keep correcting you.” (14.31-32)
Even though Sophie is better at language, there is plenty the BFG can teach her about the world. This very serious talk from the BFG finally gets her to focus on what he’s saying instead of his odd word choices. And it’s a good lesson in politeness, too.
Quote #8
“I is reading it hundreds of time,” the BFG said. “And I is still reading it and teaching new words to myself and how to write them. It is the most scrumdiddlyumptious story.” (14.102)
It’s pretty impressive that the BFG taught himself to write using only one book. Even if the book is a long one like Nicholas Nickleby. How he turned Dickens’ 19th-century English into the giant-y garble he speaks remains a mystery.
Quote #9
“Every afternoon,” the BFG said, “all these giants is in the Land of Noddy.” “I can’t understand a word this feller says,” the Head of the Army snapped. “Why doesn’t he speak clearly?” “He means the Land of Nod,” Sophie said. “It’s pretty obvious.” (21.19-21)
Sophie’s questioned the BFG’s language herself, but she won’t let someone else do it. She’s the BFG’s friend, and friends stick up for each other’s funny talking habits. Also, this is the only time she’s fresh with anyone.
Quote #10
The BFG expressed a wish to learn how to speak properly, and Sophie herself, who loved him as she would a father, volunteered to give him lessons every day. She even taught him how to spell and to write sentences, and he turned out to be a splendid intelligent pupil. (23.13)
Someone who already has taught himself to write, and who has expressed so much care for the importance of language throughout the book, would definitely be a good pupil. It’s nice that the BFG gets his wish, even if it means he doesn’t say any more wonderful made-up words.