Modal Verbs and Women’s Roles: Unveiling 19th-Century Recipes’ Sociocultural Dynamics

Abstract

Recipes have long served as essential conduits of culinary and medicinal knowledge, bearing not only gastronomical instructions but also cultural insights and social dynamics. The present investigation delves into the nuanced realm of 19th-century recipes authored by women in the context of a traditional manly sphere. In particular, it focuses on the reinforcing function of modal verbs within these texts. Modal verbs report on the interpersonal grammar of the text to suggest perspectivization concerning the information provided. Rooted in the transformative time of the 19th century, often characterized by industrialization, and shifting gender roles, this study unveils the intricate interplay of linguistic choices within the context of the domestic sphere. The 19th century, a period of remarkable upheaval in England, witnessed the confluence of industrial progress, evolving transportation, and redefined social landscapes. Amid such change, gender roles and identities experienced reevaluation. While the Industrial Revolution propelled self-made men to prominence, women’s pivotal roles as custodians of the household endured, positioning them as the primary architects of culinary practices. It is within this context that the genre of 19th-century recipes gains significance, not merely as pragmatic directives but as gateways into the socio-cultural tapestry of the era. The research unfolds through various phases. Initially, we delve into the historical and societal backdrop of 19th-century England, highlighting recipes as instruments for both cultural preservation and social functions. This entails clarifying critical terminology associated with recipes, laying the groundwork for subsequent analyses. Our focus then narrows to linguistic elements, particularly the examination of modal verbs, emphasizing their linguistic functions and broader implications. Additionally, we adopt a holistic theoretical framework, drawing inspiration from Hyland (2005). We scrutinize the intricate nature of modal verbs, exploring definitions and classifications of modality, including epistemic, deontic, and dynamic modalities. We also provide essential terminological explications to underpin subsequent analysis. At the heart of this inquiry lies the investigation into modal verbs, linguistic devices that express possibility, necessity, and obligation. These unassuming yet potent components of language, when analyzed within the corpus of 19th-century recipes, reveal profound insights into the societal and cultural milieu. We employ corpus linguistics methodology to conduct the analysis, utilizing examples extracted from the texts in the Corpus of Women’s Instructive Texts in English (COWITE) to illustrate the functions of modal verbs. A combination of corpus linguistics software tools and manual inspection is employed to analyze the occurrences. The corpus used for analysis comprises recipes authored by women in 19th-century England, sourced from COWITE. This integrated approach allows us to delve deeper into the examination of boosters, identified through meticulous linguistic analysis. By leveraging both automated corpus linguistics software and human-driven manual inspection, we gain a comprehensive understanding of the prevalence, distribution, and multifaceted functions of these boosters within the corpus. In conclusion, this study underscores the remarkable agency wielded by women within the confines of domesticity, as manifested through their linguistic contributions. Beyond their utilitarian and didactic functions, these recipes stand as testimonials to the endurance of women’s roles in the face of evolving social currents.