I do love vernacular.

Usually vernacular is a regional thing, but the vernacular O'Brien uses is a type of language unique to the soldiers in the Vietnam War. The main difference in their language is the profanities. The use of these profanities helps bring the reader into the world that O'Brien is describing. The use of "we pay our f[rea]kin' dues" (page 88) instead of "we pay our dues" helps the reader understand what type of environment the soldiers were in. This use of profanities, for me at least, doesn't bother me in the novel. When reading a novel about the Vietnam War, or any war for that matter, this type of language is expected. It adds a great deal of truth to the novel, as well as help bring the reader into the story. This vernacular is yet another way that O'Brien is able to bring his story to life.