The Language of Food
This course will take place online.
This course will explore the language around 1500 years of changing social customs. Together, we will discuss what we call different foods, mealtimes, and cooking methods, and what this can teach us about the history of trade, conquest, and colonialism.
Who is this course for?
Anyone interested in the history of language and the history of food. No previous knowledge of the subject is necessary.
What can I expect?
Students are encouraged to bring along their own experiences of language for comparison, and to have a go at using historical accents. On-site courses include physical access to original materials such as historic dictionaries and documents; online courses use a large range of images of texts for illustration, as well as quotations and explanations. Handouts explaining the main points are issued after sessions.
Joining via Zoom
This course or event will be held via Zoom. You need a computer/laptop or mobile phone to access the Zoom website, and a reliable internet connection. For further information on how to join a Zoom meeting, you can watch the joining video here.
You will need a computer or other device to connect with Zoom and a notebook/paper and pen/pencil, or digital equivalent.
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Need to Know
You will learn
- How the history of the words we come across in the kitchen teaches us about Britain’s relationship with the wider world
- How the names of foods, ways of cooking and mealtimes have changed over time
- How the names of words we use for food carries clues about status and power
- Why the origins of some food words are uncertain
- Why simple food words, such as ‘potato’ and ‘sugar’, have long and complex histories.
Meet the Tutor
Julian Walker
Julian Walker worked as an educator at the British Library for 16 years. He teaches book and printing history, and the history of English. Julian is the authority on the English language during the First World War, a subject of ongoing research in the Languages and the First World War project, which he directs. He has written several books on the history of English, in fields such as cooking, sport, and conflict, and is a regular consultant on the history of English words and idioms for BBC local radio.
Dates and Times
The Language of Food
, 19:44 - 21:44
