Learning to Serve: The Language and Literacy of Food Service Workers

Mirabelli’s research question seems to investigate the idea of what he calls ‘”multiliteracies.”  He is investigating the idea that a majority of the communication that goes on in the diner is not general spoken or written language.  The restaurant environment entails it’s own specific literacy that the workers try very hard to adapt to and learn.  This is stated in the beginning of the writing in the section entitiled, “literacy and contemporary theory.”  He seeks to examine the skills and literacy of the foodservice workers at the diner.

It is stated that his method for collecting information is through direct observation and field notes and recording.  In addition, he seems to conduct informal interviews with the workers as part of his information.  This method of data collection really allows his to paint an accurate picture of the diner and the interactions that go on.  Also, it allows the reader to better understand the point that he is trying to make when the reader can directly observe some of the example interactions and conversations that the author presents.  Mirabelli makes his point to the reader by directly showing them examples of the multiliteracy in action, in addition to his explanations.

The main point that the author is trying to make with the piece is that there are many more forms of literacy than people acknowledge.  He feels these specific sorts of literacies need to be recognized and encouraged more than they are.  He uses examples of the language of waiters at the diner to show his points.