FOOD: FAMILY AND

CULTURE
Henrietta Fleck
 Vocabulary Exercises
Synonyms:
Connotation = nuance, suggestion, implication
Deviation = divergence, departure, digression
Engender = produce, cause, create
Sentiment = feeling, emotion, response
Geriatric = aged, elderly, old
Multiplicity = array, diversity, variety
Facilitate = make easy, make possible, assist
Substantial = considerable, large, extensive
Bewilderment = confusion, incomprehension,
bafflement
Clamor (v) = shout, scream, yell
Spring (v) = jump, leap, pounce
Ritual = rite, ceremony, custom
Turmoil = chaos, disorder, confusion
Provoke = incite, aggravate, irritate
Token = sign, symbol, indication
Prevalent = common, widespread, prevailing
Merge = combine, unite, join
Antonyms:
Divergence X convergence
Geriatric X young
Facilitate X impede
Bewilderment X order
Merge X separate
Distinguish:
Cereal / serial
Priced / prized
Facilitate / felicitate
Clamor / glamour
Casual / causal (fundamental, underlying)
Desert / dessert
Deviate / devious
Conscious /conscience
 Questions
1.How does food take on a social connotation in
India? Elaborate.
2. “If food steps out of its assigned role, people can
find it disturbing.” What are your views on this?
3. What role does food play in your life? What
connotations does it have? Explain.
4. “The Third world sometimes feels that the
Western World uses food as power.” Do you see a
dominance of the West when it comes to food?
 Discuss:
• Family foods
• Age preferences in food –children, teenagers,
young adults, older people
• Food and symbolism – hospitality, friendship,
comfort, relationships
• Food and culture
• Food and religion
• Food and rituals
• Food and emotions
• Food and health
• Food and individual preferences
• Food and regional differences
• Food and national differences
• Food and gender
• Food and creativity
• Food as reward and punishment
• Vegetarianism and non-vegetarianism
• Words associated with food – colour, rich,
heavy, light, hot, cold, nutritional, medicinal,
junk etc