The Language of Food: A Linguist Reads the Menu

The Language of Food: A Linguist Reads the Menu

by Dan Jurafsky (Author)

Synopsis

Ketchup began as a fermented fish sauce from China's Fujian province: ke for fermented fish, tchup for sauce. The British were the first to add tomatoes to their anchovy catsup in 1817. A century later, Heinz changed the spelling again-and added sugar.

In The Language of Food, Dan Jurafsky opens a panoramic window onto everything from the modern descendants of ancient recipes to the hidden persuasion in restaurant reviews. Combining history with linguistic analysis, Jurafsky uncovers a global atlas of premodern culinary influence: why we toast to good health at dinner and eat toast for breakfast and why the Chinese don't have a word for dessert . Engaging and eclectic, Jurafsky's study reveals how everything from medieval meal order to modern menu design informs the way we drink and dine today. Tuck in!

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More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 256
Edition: Reprint
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Published: 20 Nov 2015

ISBN 10: 0393351629
ISBN 13: 9780393351620

Media Reviews
His [Jurafsky's] decoding of food-related texts is the most original aspect of a work that is entertaining and revealing throughout. -- The Economist
...hugely entertaining book... -- The Independent
Deliciously erudite. -- Nature
This book won't put dinner on the table, but it just might improve how you order in a restaurant. -- Tony Turnbull, Christmas Round-ups 2014 - The Times
I found The Language of Food eye-opening, insightful and huge fun to read, with surprises and treats on every page. -- Bee Wilson
What [Dan Jurafsky] doesn't know about the etymology of food and catering is not worth knowing...[his] deconstruction of a menu...is an object lesson in food PR. -- The Independent
Author Bio
Dan Jurafsky, a recipient of a MacArthur Genius Grant, is professor and chair of linguistics and professor of computer science at Stanford University. He and his wife live in San Francisco.