The Language of Food: A Linguist Reads the Menu [Paperback]

Why do we eat toast for breakfast, and then toast to good health at dinner? What does the turkey we eat on Thanksgiving have to do with the country on the eastern Mediterranean? Can you figure out how much your dinner will cost by counting the words on the menu?[Jurafsky's] brilliant achievement is to weave together the journey food makes through culture with the journey its name makes through language.Writing with knowledge and wit, Dan Jurafsky shows that the language of food reflects our desires and aspirations, whether its on a fancy French menu or a bag of potato chips.Dan Jurafsky has taken on the subject with scholarship, wit, and charm, makingMix equal parts fascinating history, surprising etymology, and brilliant linguistic analysis, add a generous dollop of humor, and savorFresh and insightful&The complexities of language, intertwined with the endless combinations of ingredients and the rich history of eating, make for a rich and rewarding read.Delightful. The distinguished linguist Dan Jurafsky brings a battery of skills to reveal the far-flung links of many of our dishes, to reveal how potato chip advertisements work, and to give an insiders guide to reading menus. I couldnt put this book down.A 2015 James Beard Award Finalist: Eye-opening, insightful, and huge fun to read. Bee Wilson, author of