Read the excerpt from Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms.

The major was a little man with upturned mustaches. He had been in the war in Libya and wore two wound-stripes. He said that if the thing went well he would see that I was decorated. I said I hoped it would go well but that he was too kind. I asked him if there was a big dugout where the drivers could stay and he sent a soldier to show me. I went with him and found the dugout, which was very good. The drivers were pleased with it and I left them there.

In the excerpt, what does the diction, or words used to express an idea, show about the narrator?

The words like 'hoped', 'asked'. 'found the dugout', and the words he uses to describe others like 'the major was a little man, he was too kind', etc helps to give idea about the narrator.

Expression or word-decision consistently assumes an imperative part in making the planned picture, tone, or disposition through clear depictions and subtleties.

It helps the creator to leave the ideal effect on the crowd and get a planned reaction from them.  

In the given selection, the words or lingual authority express the possibility that 'makes the storyteller look trained.' The words like 'trusted', 'inquired'. 'tracked down the hole', and the words he uses to portray others like 'the major was a little man, he was excessively kind, and so on suggest that the storyteller is a deliberate and systematic man.

For more information, refer the following link:

link

- It makes the narrator seem disciplined.

Explanation:

Diction or word-choice always plays a vital role in creating the intended picture, tone, or mood through vivid descriptions and details. It assists the author to leave the desired impact on the audience and elicit an intended response from them.

In the given excerpt, the words or diction express the idea that 'makes the narrator look disciplined.' The words like 'hoped', 'asked'. 'found the dugout', and the words he uses to describe others like 'the major was a little man, he was too kind', etc. imply that the narrator is a systematic and orderly man.

the underlined phrase is an example of : understatment