1.19850+ billion mouths to feed: food linguistics and cross‐cultural, cross‐“national” food consumption habits in China

Abstract

Investigates the various major sociolinguistic subcultures of China with specific attention to their distinctive food preferences, coupled with a tradition of food symbols which interweave Chinese subcultures. Points out that, contrary to popular belief among foreign business people, there is no “China market”; rather, there are many diverse markets within China. Notes that there are many languages and, hence, cultures in the country, and the people do not all eat the same foods; yet, at the same time, there is a rich unity of symbolic tradition associated with the foods the Chinese eat ‐ indeed there is an elaborate food linguistic the semantics of which need to be understood by outsiders. Presents an introduction and overview of the diversity and unity of China as it relates to food, and its findings should be of value to those working in various aspects of the food and agriculture industries who may have an interest in China markets, those interested in either importing or exporting Chinese food products, exporting food processing equipment or farming and agricultural technology, and those in the food business serving Chinese populations of significant size around the world.

Citation

Swanson, L.A. (1996), "1.19850+ billion mouths to feed: food linguistics and cross‐cultural, cross‐“national” food consumption habits in China", British Food Journal, Vol. 98 No. 6, pp. 33-44. https://doi.org/10.1108/00070709610131357