Chapter 3. The moral taste of food
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Martina Drescher
Abstract
This paper analyses discussions about vegetarianism and veganism in francophone social media groups where moral statements play an important role. It sketches a communicative conception of morality as ‘doing ethics’ that zooms in on how morality emerges and is negotiated in interaction by concentrating on linguistic practices that key morality. Based on two case studies, it examines controversies about moral values of food which offer insights in the more general machinery of moral discourse. The data reveal different linguistic techniques which are frequent in, although not specific to, moral discourse. In particular, these are evaluations, pejorative or upgrading lexicon, deontic modality, generalisations, typical speech acts like advice or instruction as well as semantic and structural forms of intensification.
Abstract
This paper analyses discussions about vegetarianism and veganism in francophone social media groups where moral statements play an important role. It sketches a communicative conception of morality as ‘doing ethics’ that zooms in on how morality emerges and is negotiated in interaction by concentrating on linguistic practices that key morality. Based on two case studies, it examines controversies about moral values of food which offer insights in the more general machinery of moral discourse. The data reveal different linguistic techniques which are frequent in, although not specific to, moral discourse. In particular, these are evaluations, pejorative or upgrading lexicon, deontic modality, generalisations, typical speech acts like advice or instruction as well as semantic and structural forms of intensification.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Chapter 1. Introduction 1
-
Lifestylization and the global
- Chapter 2. How less means more in the comments section of vegan food blogs 15
- Chapter 3. The moral taste of food 35
- Chapter 4. The local and the global in airline food 57
- Chapter 5. Language in transnational communities of consumption 79
- Chapter 6. Craft beer and linguistic lifestyle emblematization 99
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Mediatization and identity
- Chapter 7. (Un)healthy food discourses 125
- Chapter 8. Dinner for One 145
- Chapter 9. “Tell me about food and I tell you who you are” 167
- Chapter 10. Formality and informality in cooking shows 189
-
Enculturation and localization
- Chapter 11. A rich sauce of comedy 211
- Chapter 12. Naming practices in Singapore’s hawker centres 235
- Chapter 13. Naming food in English in multilingual Cameroon 257
- Index food and food names 277
- Index 281
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Chapter 1. Introduction 1
-
Lifestylization and the global
- Chapter 2. How less means more in the comments section of vegan food blogs 15
- Chapter 3. The moral taste of food 35
- Chapter 4. The local and the global in airline food 57
- Chapter 5. Language in transnational communities of consumption 79
- Chapter 6. Craft beer and linguistic lifestyle emblematization 99
-
Mediatization and identity
- Chapter 7. (Un)healthy food discourses 125
- Chapter 8. Dinner for One 145
- Chapter 9. “Tell me about food and I tell you who you are” 167
- Chapter 10. Formality and informality in cooking shows 189
-
Enculturation and localization
- Chapter 11. A rich sauce of comedy 211
- Chapter 12. Naming practices in Singapore’s hawker centres 235
- Chapter 13. Naming food in English in multilingual Cameroon 257
- Index food and food names 277
- Index 281
