Language

The language of “Everyone Talked Loudly in Chinatown” by Anne Jew is very simple, as it is supposed to illustrate the perspective of a teenage narrator.

Language overview

The choice of words reflects both cultures presented in the story with references to the Chinese game “mah-jong” or western TV shows like “"The Roadrunner" and "The Beverly Hillbillies."

The author combines narrative passages with dialogue and detailed descriptions, creating very vivid imagery, such as when the narrator depicts feeding her grandmother:

The spoon makes a clanging noise as it knocks against her teeth, sending a shiver through me. She still has all of them, which is amazing since my mother already has false front teeth. She doesn't chew the food very much though. It stays in her mouth a while, and then she makes a great effort to swallow. ...