I am posting this in hopes of compiling responses for a project of mine. I am concerned with the sociolinguistic aspects (i.e., the relationship of language shaping society and vice versa) in Mark Twain's work. I ask, To what degree does Twain view language as a shaper of reality? Obviously, there is a decided fascination with dialect and lack of understanding in Twain's work. Another tangent: Does Twain see language as a pre-determined cycle or an undetermined aspect of human existence? If you do not want your name cited in my little project, please do not reply. Thanks, Tim Short Indiana University at Fort Wayne