CLA1915: Language, Food, and Identity

Language and food are crucial for defining who we are. We learn language and the tastes (textures, smells, visual features, and sounds) that we associate with food early in our lives, and both form an important part of our identities. In this course, we will address the following questions: 1) How are language, food, and identity related? 2) How does language structure recipes and menus, and how is it used in food names? 3) How is language used online and in the media, e.g., in food blogs and TV cooking shows? 4) How do we assess and identify food? 5) How does language relate to gender in the context of food? 6) How does language and food socialization influence children’s identity? 7) What metaphors do we have for food? 8) How does food humor reflect our identities? We will explore the relation between language, food, and identity in spontaneous conversations among people eating a variety of foods. The class will be most rewarding for students who like to cook and/or eat, talk about food, and educate their palate.

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