i202 Fall 2010 School of Information, UC Berkeley

This blog entry is an example of cultural categorization systems and how embodied language and culture can cause conflicts.

My extended family owns rice noodle factories in San Francisco that serve many of the Asian restaurants.  For the past year they have been having to deal with a new law that has put their noodle factories in jeopardy.   The reasons for this conflict stem from cultural categorization issues. 

Basically, the new California Retail Food Code only scoped and defined noodles - from a Western perspective of being made from egg and flour.  They did not consider that other cultures make “noodles” out of other ingredients; as in my family’s case -- rice.  The new food laws required all noodles to be immediately refrigerated, which in concept sounds like it would protect public health.  However, when you refrigerate rice noodles, this makes the noodles hard, dry, and affects the look and taste.  For the past year, all the asian noodle factories in California were in violation and started getting fined and cited for breaking this food law.  The food inspectors would refuse to allow exceptions and for the past year, my cousin has been involved with a campaign along with Martin Yan, from Yan can cook, and State Senator Leeland Yee to redefine the category of noodles.

Last week, on Thursday, September 30th, 2010 marked the passing of Asian Riced Based Noodles amendment to the California Retail Food Code.  The new amendment passed by California's Legislative Council can be found here: SB 888.  I wonder if there are other cultural examples of how language can constrain thought.  Add your examples below...