Delicious Words: East Asian Food Words in English

The English language is expanding its culinary vocabulary due to the interconnection of societies, with foreign-origin and hybrid words becoming a main source of new imports. This book explores how words are born and evolve in a modern transcultural environment, with case studies from Japan to Mongolia, Hong Kong to Korea, China to Vietnam, and beyond. It demonstrates how more and more words are becoming borderless and forming their own new global identities, offering a wide range of examples to illustrate the metamorphosis of how we engage with food words.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 142 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

As societies across the globe continue to intertwine at an unprecedented pace and across vast distances, so too does the realm of food, resulting in the evolution of the English language's culinary vocabulary. This captivating book delves into the lives of these culinary terms in today's discourse on eating and drinking, specifically focusing on the influence of foreign cultures, particularly East Asian ones, on culinary English. It explores how words are born and evolve in a modern, transcultural environment, shedding light on the significant role that foreign-origin and hybrid words play in shaping our daily lexicon.

Through a series of case studies spanning Japan, Mongolia, Hong Kong, Korea, China, and Vietnam, among other regions, this book showcases how an increasing number of words are transcending borders and forging their own unique global identities. It offers a diverse range of examples, including lesser-known regional cuisines, alongside familiar staple dishes, to illustrate the remarkable metamorphosis of our engagement with food words.

This book appeals to a wide audience, including general readers, scholars engaged in East Asian studies, English linguistics, intercultural communication studies, translation studies, and lexicography. It provides valuable insights into the ever-changing landscape of culinary terminology and its profound impact on our understanding and appreciation of food.

Weight: 280g
Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367505912