Delicious Words

Have you ever heard of a sushi burrito? Is it possible to have boba without boba? Do you really know what a dumpling is? 'Delicious Words: East Asian Food Words in English' delves deep into the interactions and evolution of food words - a transnational, transcultural, and translingual phenomenon - and examines the lives of such words in today's discourse on eating and drinking. With case studies from Japan to Mongolia, Hong Kong to Korea, China to Vietnam, and beyond, this book examines how more and more words are becoming borderless, forming new, global identities that are continuously influenced by multiple languages and cultures. 'Delicious Words' also introduces the 3E model which describes how the three motives of efficiency, expressivity, and empathy influence the shaping of a borderless lexicon in the daily language of individuals.

By showcasing some lesser-known regional cuisines, alongside staple dishes that many already know and love, 'Delicious Words' offers a wide range of examples to illustrate the metamorphosis of how we engage with food words. The role of social media is now at the forefront of this change, where your everyday online user can be considered a pioneer and participant in shaping culinary lexicon. In an increasingly interconnected society, the ways in which we understand and use food words are rapidly transforming; linguistic freedom and creativity are permitted, and even encouraged! The intersection between East Asian food and language are brought into dialogue through 'Delicious Words'; an accessible and mouth-watering read that will whet your linguistic appetite and leave you hungry for more.

This book will be of interest to general readers, as well as those who are engaged in East Asian studies, English linguistics, intercultural communication studies, translation studies, and lexicography.