Cover not available

In:The Language of Food in Japanese: Cognitive perspectives and beyond
Edited by Kiyoko Toratani
[Converging Evidence in Language and Communication Research 25] 2022
► pp. 135–160

Get fulltext from our e-platform
JBE logo with link
PDF logo with download linkDownload Book PDF
authorization required

Chapter 5
Verbs of eating

From active zones, cultures, metonymy, and metaphor to withdrawal

 | University of Malaya
Published online: 9 February 2022
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/celcr.25.05yam
Abstract
The chapter explains how kuu and taberu, two major verbs of eating in Japanese, emerged, developed, and changed their literal and figurative meanings. Both verbs began their life distinctly. Kuu emerged from the active zone, while societal structures gave rise to taberu. This difference is reflected in two facets of culture, labeled Culture 1 and Culture 2, which embrace adversity and hierarchical society, respectively, revealing two social attributes that are historically prevalent in Japan. Today’s usages of taberu and kuu show a shift in the selection of active zones and a shift from metonymy to metaphor. Drawing upon kuu’s current tendency to withdraw from figurative expression, the chapter suggests that metonymy and metaphor can effect a clear division of labor.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Active zones
  • 3.Cultures
  • 4.Verbs of eating
    • 4.1Kuu
      • 4.1.1From holding to biting to eating
      • 4.1.2Eating and living
      • 4.1.3Eating an inedible object as acceptance of adversity
    • 4.2Tabu
    • 4.3Taberu
      • 4.3.1Eating and living
      • 4.3.2Eating an inedible object as an expression of enjoyment
    • 4.4Summary
  • 5.Kuu’s withdrawal
  • 6.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations
  • References
References (57)
References
Allan, K. (2010). Tracing metonymic polysemy through time: MATERIAL FOR OBJECT mappings in the OED. In M. E. Winters, H. Tissari, & K. Allan (Eds.), Historical cognitive linguistics (pp. 163–196). Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Anderson, E. N. (2005). Everyone eats: Understanding food and culture. New York, NY: New York University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Barcelona, A. (2007). The role of metonymy in meaning construction at discourse level: A case study. In G. Radden, K-M. Köpcke, T. Berg, & P. Siemund (Eds.), Aspects of meaning construction (pp. 51–75). Amsterdam and Philadelphia, PA: John Benjamins. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Barnden, J. (2010). Metaphor and metonymy: Making their connections more slippery. Cognitive Linguistics, 21(1), 1–34. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Bentō ga pan to ringo demo kodomo wa sodatsu Kaji no sokubaku sayonara [Children can grow with bread-and-apple bento -- Goodby to housework]. (2019, January 29). Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved from [URL]
Boyd, B., & Richerson, P. J. (1985). Culture and the evolutionary process. Chicago, IL: Chicago University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Croft, W. (2002). The role of domains in the interpretation of metaphors and metonymies. In R. Dirven & R. Porings (Eds.), Metaphor and metonymy in comparison and contrast (pp. 161–205). Berlin and New York, NY: De Gruyter Mouton. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2006). On explaining metonymy: Comment on Peirsman and Geeraerts, “Metonymy as a prototypical category”. Cognitive Linguistics, 17(3), 317–326. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Editorial team of Shogakukan. (2001). Nihon Kokugo Dai-jiten [The comprehensive dictionary of the Japanese language]. Tokyo: Shogakukan.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Evans, V. (2007). A glossary of cognitive linguistics. Salt Lake City, UT: The University of Utah Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Evans, V., & Green, M. (2006). Cognitive linguistics: An introduction. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Fortson IV, B. W. (2003). An approach to semantic change. In B. D. Joseph & R. D. Janda (Eds.), The handbook of historical linguistics (pp. 648–666). Malden, MA: Blackwell. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Goossens, L. (1990). Metaphonymy: The interaction between metaphor and metonymy in expressions for linguistic actions. Cognitive Linguistics, 1(3), 323–340. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Heine, B., Claudi, U., & Hūnnemeyer, F. (1991). Grammaticalization: A conceptual framework. Chicago, IL: Chicago University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hopper, P. (1996). Some recent trends in grammaticalization. Annual Review of Anthropology, 25, 217–236. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Ihara, S. (1682). Kōshoku Ichidai Otoko [The life of an amorous man]. In Kingoro Maeda (Ed.), Kōshoku ichidai otoko zen chūshaku [A completely annotated edition of Kōshoku ichidai otoko]. Book I. Tokyo: Kadokawa, (1980).Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Iwasaki, K. (2018, December 15). Abe-seiken ga tsuzuku kagiri Okinawa no min-i wa mushi-sare-tsuzukeru [Okinawa’s public opinion will remain ignored as long as the Abe’s political power continues]. Web Ronza. Retrieved from [URL]
Iwasaki, S. (2002). Japanese. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Kay, C., & Allan, K. (2015). English historical semantics. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Keller, R. (1997). In what sense can explanations of language change be functional? In J. Gvozdanović (Ed.), Language change and functional explanations (pp. 9–20). Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Kindaichi, H., Hayashi, O., & Shibata, T. (Eds.). (1988). Nihongo hyakka Daijiten [An encyclopedia of the Japanese language]. Tokyo: Taishukan.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Kisanjin ie no bakemono [A Monster at the House of Kisanjin]. (1787). In T. Suzuki (Ed.), Kibyōshi hyakushū [One hundred illustrated short stories] (pp. 419–428). Tokyo: Hakubunkan, (1901).Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Kokkai-shingi wa tsuzuite imasu ga… Shōsetsu ga tou “hatarakikata kaikaku” [Diet deliberations continue … “Reforming how to work” which a novel questions]. (2018, June 19). Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved from [URL]
Kövecses, Z. (2005). Metaphor in culture: Universality and variation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Kövecses, Z., & Radden, G. (1998). Metonymy: Developing a cognitive linguistic view. Cognitive Linguistics, 9(1), 37–77. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Kurauchi, T. (2011, July). Tōjōki ni oitekibori o kutta hanashi [A story about having the misfortune of being left behind by a plane]. Topics Global. Retrieved from [URL]
Lakoff, G. (1987). Women, fire and dangerous things: What categories reveal about the mind. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Langacker, R. W. (1987). Foundations of cognitive grammar: Theoretical prerequisites. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2009). Investigations in Cognitive Grammar. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Lange, D. L., & Paige, R. M. (2003). Perspectives on culture in second language learning. Greenwich. CT: Information Age Publishing.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Littlemore, J. (2015). Metonymy: Hidden shortcuts in language, thought and communication. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Michizuna no haha [the mother of Michizuna]. (974–995). Kagerō Nikki [Kagero Diary]. In Tsutomu Kakomoto (Ed.), Kagero Nikki Zen Chūshaku [A completely annotated edition of Kagoro Diary]. Tokyo: Kadokawa, (1966).Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Minami, H. (1971 [1953]). Psychology of the Japanese people. (A. R. Ikoma, Trans.). Tokyo: University of Tokyo Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Miyaji, Y. (1971). Gendai no keigo [Honorifics in modern times]. In T. Tsujimura (Ed.), Keigo-shi [A history of honorifics] (pp. 367–425). Tokyo: Taishukan.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Murakami Haruki “Dansu dansu dansu” no hanbāgā o dōga de ajiwau [Tasting the hamburger from “Dance dance dance” by Haruki Murakami with a video clip]. (2018, July 28). Good life with books. Retrieved from [URL]
Nakamura, Y., Okami, M., & Sakakura, A. (Eds.). (1984). Kadokawa kogo dai-jiten [Kadokawa comprehensive dictionary of classical Japanese]. Tokyo: Kadokawa.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Nerlich, B. (2010). Metaphor and metonymy. In A. H. Jucker & I. Taavitsainen (Eds.), Historical pragmatics (pp. 193–215). Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Nerlich, B., & Clarke, D. D. (2001). Serial metonymy: A study of reference-based polysemisation, Journal of Historical Pragmatics, 2(2), 245–272. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Newman, J. (1997). Eating and drinking as sources of metaphor in English. Cuadernos de Filología Inglisa, 6(2), 213–231.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(Ed.) (2009). Linguistics of eating and drinking. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Nihon-shoki [The chronicles of Japan]. (720). In Y. Tsuchihashi (Ed.), Kodai kayō zen-chūshaku: Nihon-shoki-hen [A completely annotated collection of ancient poems: An edition of the Chronicles of Japan]. Tokyo: Kadokawa, (1976).Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
“Nyonin-kinsei” Kabe koeru ni wa koe o age te Moriyama Mayumi san [Raise your voice to overcome the wall, “Women Not Admitted”, Ms. Mayumi Moriyama]. (2018, May 5). Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved from [URL]
(Otoko no betsubara). Hosokawa Toshio san. ‘Aratama seika’ no habutae-mochi [(Men’s separate stomach) Mr. Toshio Hosokawa. Habutae-mochi by “Aratama seika” company. (2019, February 15). Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved from [URL]
(Otoko no betsubara). Ota Kazuhiko san. “Onkashitsukasa Shiono” no dōmyōji sakura-mochi” [(Men’s separate stomach) Mr. Kazuhiko Ota. Dōmyōji sakura-mochi of “Japanese sweet shop Shiono”]. (March 30, 2018). Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved from [URL]
Pyonyan de shūsen, kuitsume baiketsu mo. Itsuki Hiroyuki o osoi-tsuzuketa yūutsu [The end of WWII in Pyongyang – Sold even blood, being broke. The gloom that kept visiting Hiroyuki Itsuki]. (2018, 25 December). Ashahi Shimbun, Retrieved from [URL])
Shirane, H. (2005). Classical Japanese: A grammar. New York: Columbia University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Taylor, J. (1989/2003). Linguistic categorisation (3rd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Teishotoku-katei no gakuhi genmen Kōtōkyōiku, shōgakukin-kakujū Honebuto no hōshin [Tax reduction and exemption for low income families – High school education, scholarship expansion – Big-boned reform]. (2018, June 6). Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved from [URL]
Traugott, E., & Dasher, R. B. (2001). Regularity in semantic change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Tsujimura, T. (1968). Keigo no shiteki kenkyū [Historical study of honorifics]. Tokyo: Tokyodo.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(1971). Keigo-shi no hōhō to mondai [Methods and problems in the history of honorifics]. In T. Tsujimura (Ed.), Keigo-shi [History of Honorifics] (pp. 1–32). Tokyo: Taishukan.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Ullman, S. (1962). Semantics: An introduction to the science of meaning. Oxford: Blackwell.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Ushinawareta gaikō baransu [Lost diplomatic balance]. (2018, November 20). Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved from [URL]
Vance, T. J. (1987). An introduction to Japanese phonology. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Yamaguchi, T. (2009). Literal and figurative uses of Japanese EAT and DRINK. In J. Newman (Ed.), The linguistics of eating and drinking. (pp. 173–193). Amsterdam: John Benjamins. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Yanase, K. (1971). Hōjōki chūshaku [Annotation of Visions of a torn world]. Tokyo: Kadokawa.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Yoshida, K. (c. 1331). Tsurezuregusa [Essays in Idleness]. In K. Yasuraoka (Ed.), Tsurezuregusa zen chūshaku [A completely annotated edition of Tsurezuregusa]. Tokyo: Kadokawa. (1967–1968).Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Mobile Menu Logo with link to supplementary files background Layer 1 prag Twitter_Logo_Blue