Metaphor as a Means of Constructing the Discourse of Tasting

This study conducts an analysis of taste metaphors employed in 21st-century British, American, and Canadian cultures, aiming to identify these metaphors within tasting discourse and assess their frequency and significance in framing various types of taste. Utilising a mixed-methods approach, the research examines 67 episodes of MasterChef, 27 menus, and 27 reviews from the Michelin Guide 2023. The study applies Critical Discourse Analysis (Fairclough, 2005) to explore the sociocultural influences on metaphor use and employs the Metaphor Identification Procedure (Pragglejaz Group, 2007) for systematic metaphor identification. Probability sampling is used to select metaphorical expressions, while simple random sampling is employed for the selection of MasterChef episodes, menus, and Michelin Guide reviews. Statistical calculations are utilised to count the metaphors. The research identifies 400 distinct metaphors, categorising them by their prevalence and conceptual significance. It identifies the most and least frequent metaphorical expressions in taste descriptions, providing insights into the metaphorical landscape of taste in contemporary English-speaking culinary culture. This analysis enhances the understanding of how taste is conceptualised and communicated in culinary discourse, underscoring the diversity and framing function of metaphorical expressions in this domain.