Devon, polony, fritz: The food that goes by a half dozen different names
The Australian deli meat commonly known as devon, polony, or fritz has a history of changing names due to anti-German sentiment during World War I. Linguists note that the shift to names like 'Windsor' reflected a broader societal move to distance Australian culture from German origins.
Why it matters
This highlights how geopolitical conflicts can influence everyday language and cultural identity in unexpected ways.
You can hate it or love it, but what do you call it? ( Supplied: State Library of Western Australia )
The article provides a historical and linguistic analysis of food terminology without taking a political stance.
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