Food Naming by Male and Female Contestants in MasterChef Australia Season 14: A Corpus and Socio-Onomastic Analysis

Safira Rizky Amanda GP, Dr. Wiwik Retno Handayani, S. S, M. Hum.

2025 | Tesis | S2 Linguistik

This study investigates the linguistic structures and gendered naming strategies in MasterChef Australia Season 14, using a corpus-based socio-onomastic analysis that combines corpus-assisted analysis of 301 food names with a qualitative socio-onomastic framework. This study aimed to identify the contestants' word formation processes, drawing upon the theories of Yule (2017) and Štekauer (1998). Furthermore, it sought to explain the differences in naming styles between male and female contestants through a convergent parallel analysis, which integrated gender theories by Lakoff and Tannen. The analysis reveals that names are structurally complex, predominantly using nouns for ingredients, adjectives for texture (“crispy”), and verbs for cooking methods (“grill”). Significant gender differences emerged in naming strategies. Female contestants demonstrated a broader culinary scope, drawing from diverse global cuisines like Korean, Greek, Venezuelan, and using a wider variety of nuanced technique words such as “smoke”, “wrap”, “pickle”. Their names were often linguistically layered, featuring textural descriptions and conceptual language (“Invisible Apple Gateau”, “Daughter-in-Law Scotch Egg”). Conversely, male contestants showed a deeper focus on a narrower set of cuisines like Italian and Vietnamese, and favoured direct, action-oriented terms highlighting a primary cooking process (“grill”, “char-grilled”). Their figurative language often manifested through personal narratives (“Mum’s Nyonya Egg Curry”), playful wit (“The Little Piggy Went to Market”), and modern terms (“Drunken Chicken 2.0”). This study concludes that contestants use naming as a strategic tool for identity construction, with female contestants often signalling expertise through breadth and complexity, while male contestants emphasize focused mastery and creative names.

This study investigates the linguistic structures and gendered naming strategies in MasterChef Australia Season 14, using a corpus-based socio-onomastic analysis that combines corpus-assisted analysis of 301 food names with a qualitative socio-onomastic framework. This study aimed to identify the contestants' word formation processes, drawing upon the theories of Yule (2017) and Štekauer (1998). Furthermore, it sought to explain the differences in naming styles between male and female contestants through a convergent parallel analysis, which integrated gender theories by Lakoff and Tannen. The analysis reveals that names are structurally complex, predominantly using nouns for ingredients, adjectives for texture (“crispy”), and verbs for cooking methods (“grill”). Significant gender differences emerged in naming strategies. Female contestants demonstrated a broader culinary scope, drawing from diverse global cuisines like Korean, Greek, Venezuelan, and using a wider variety of nuanced technique words such as “smoke”, “wrap”, “pickle”. Their names were often linguistically layered, featuring textural descriptions and conceptual language (“Invisible Apple Gateau”, “Daughter-in-Law Scotch Egg”). Conversely, male contestants showed a deeper focus on a narrower set of cuisines like Italian and Vietnamese, and favoured direct, action-oriented terms highlighting a primary cooking process (“grill”, “char-grilled”). Their figurative language often manifested through personal narratives (“Mum’s Nyonya Egg Curry”), playful wit (“The Little Piggy Went to Market”), and modern terms (“Drunken Chicken 2.0”). This study concludes that contestants use naming as a strategic tool for identity construction, with female contestants often signalling expertise through breadth and complexity, while male contestants emphasize focused mastery and creative names.

Kata Kunci : food naming, corpus analysis, socio-onomastic, language and gender.