Eat A Bowl of Tea - Syntax and Diction

Syntax and Diction

By keeping sentences relatively simple and throwing in various cultural terms and phrases, Chu makes his novel both authentic and readable.

• Numerous instances of insults and bad language destroy any stiff formality and provide readers with an honest perspective of life in an overwhelmingly male society:
  • Ex: "Wow his mother/father", "Go sell your ass", "sonovabitch", "dead girl/boy"
• Text parallels the speech of Asian Americans by sporadically including Sze Yup dialect – Chinese terms and unfamiliar phrases:
  • Ex: "You have a warm heart" (173), "green hat" (127), "Don't stand on ceremony" (164), "Fatty water should not be permitted to flow into another's rice paddy" (158)

Chu makes the stylistic choice to italicize certain words and phrases of his text. This occurs while depicting:

• letters
• interior monologues (in brief glimpses into thoughts of primary characters)
• songs
• most Chinese terms
  • These italicized sections of the text represent the most personal glimpses into the characters of the novel. As letters, free discourse, and songs allow round characters to reveal a deeper side of themselves, the terms provide readers with a taste of Chinese culture.

Finally, Chu portrays even the most violent and sexual of scenes with beautiful and minimalist description. By avoiding graphic descriptions, these passages remain tasteful and allow readers to use their own imaginations to obtain closure.

• "He...picked up his leather slipper from the floor. His hand must have come down at least half a dozen times" (146).
• "In the kitchen the white-enameled pot stood mute and unused, the lone cup of tea on the table forgotten and untouched. Later when they both got up, Mei Oi started to sob, very softly" (99).
• "Ah Song's left ear fell to the floor" (183).

These instances not only give readers the unique chance to assume and create their own details, but also reflect values of politeness and privacy in Chinese culture.