January 29 to 31, 2024
The Language of Food:
Exploring Culinary Communication and Culture
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Food Studies Research Cluster
The Conference Program has been Published!
Here are the presenter bios and abstracts as well. Looking forward to seeing everyone there.
A three-day symposium delving into the complex relationship between language, food, and culture. Two days of in-person presentations and one day of online presentations.
Food has always been a means of communication, expressing identity, tradition, and social dynamics within communities. This symposium will bring together scholars, researchers, and practitioners from diverse disciplines such as linguistics, anthropology, sociology, history, and culinary arts. By examining various aspects of culinary communication, we aim to deepen our understanding of how language shapes and is shaped by food practices.
Topics to be explored include
the role of food-related vocabulary and metaphors in language,
the social and cultural dimensions of food language,
the use of food as a medium of communication in different societies, and
the impact of globalization on food discourse.
Through a keynote presentation and panel discussions, this symposium will foster intellectual exchange and collaboration among participants. We hope to encourage interdisciplinary dialogue that sheds light on the interconnectedness of food, language, and culture, while also providing insights into the future directions of research in this growing field of food studies.
Ultimately, this symposium aims to highlight the significance of the language of food in understanding and appreciating diverse culinary traditions, fostering intercultural understanding, and addressing pressing societal issues such as food insecurity, sustainability, heritage preservation, and food innovation. By unraveling the complexities of culinary communication, we can pave the way for a more informed and gastronomically rich future.
Keynote Speaker:
Nicole Tarulevicz, PhD
Head of History and Classics,
School of Humanities
University of Tasmania
Conference Chair:
Keri Matwick, PhD
Senior Lecturer, Language and Communication Centre
School of Humanities
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore