英语专业毕业论文-中西方餐桌文化对比.doc

A Contrastive Analysis of Table Culture Between China and Western CountriesByHuang xiang A 2012 Undergraduate of the School of Foreign Languages of Teachers CollegeSupervisor: Han RongMay 7th, 2012A Contrastive Analysis of Table Culture Between China and Western CountriesThesis statement: There are differences of table culture between Chinaand western countries.OutlineI. Introduction: a brief account of table cultureII. The major differences of table culture between China and westerncountriesA. Seats arrangementB. The use of tableware1. The use of tableware in China2. The use of tableware in western countriesC. The content of dietingD. Drinking styleE. The concept of time. Reasons for the differences of table culture between China and western countriesA. Cultural backgroundB. Economic backgroundIV. The attitudes that we should hold to the differences of table culture between China and western countriesV. ConclusionA Contrastive Analysis of Table Culture Between Chinaand Western CountriesAuthor: Xu Haiyan Supervisor: Han RongI. Introduction: a brief account of table cultureIt is well known that culture plays an important role in our daily life and also in our society. We cant imagine what our life would be like without culture. In all kinds of cultures, table culture is one of the most influential parts.China has a long history of table culture. According to the recorded document, China has formed its way of table culture in Zhou dynasty. These rituals has matured and improved, and they played an important role in ancient society, even in modern society. They are the fundamental culture of personal relationships, which promote the development of human society. In the 20th century, the Italian culture was taken into France, thus table manners and menu terms have become more refined and elegant. Etiquette guidelines have also emerged. Today, table manners still continue to be passed on in European countries. As the western cultures are introduced into China in a large scale, traditional Chinese etiquette is constantly impacted by Western one. The protection of traditional Chinese etiquette and effective integration with western etiquette are more conducive to cross-cultural communication with Western countries. Due to the differences of natural environment and life style in China and western countries, people have many different kinds of table culture, which somehow reflect the customs and habits between China and western countries. Whats more, comparing the different and same table culture will help us to learn more about the manner and culture in western countries. As the saying goes, food is the most important for people. It not only deals with hunger at present, but also contains more cultural meanings. The dining table is one of the most vital places where good cultures are displayed. Elegant manners at the table may bring friendship and even success. Obviously, it is clear that eating has infiltrated into every aspect of social life gradually. In English-speaking countries, we also have such a proverb as “you are what you eat”. From this sentence, we can totally understand what eating means to human beings. As the economy develops, more and more businesses are settled on the table. So it is quite important for us to get a good knowledge of the table cultures. Now, China and western countries have more and more exchanges. Comparing Sino-Western table cultures and exploring the differences between Sino-Western cultures play an important role in improving our self-cultivation, as well as enhancing further cooperation between China and western countries. II. The major differences of table culture between China and western countriesFrom what we have discussed above, we can move naturally to the second part of the thesis. In the following analysis, emphasis will be put on the detailed differences of table culture between China and western countries. After analysis, we would get a deeper understanding of table culture. A. Seats arrangementIn Chinese table culture, the guests are seated in good order. The arrangement of seats embodies respect for guests.Where a guest is seated depends on his age, social status and so on. “Taking the left for upper” is the traditional custom in China. It means that the left seats are higher than the right ones. The guest of honor should be arranged on the left of the host. In the past, Chinese advocated south, east and the left. When entering, the elders and the guests are required to sit from left side of the chair. It is important to note that the master should not let guests sit in a seat near the serving, which is a taboo. As time passed on, the view of position has changed. It not only inherits the tradition, but also takes some views of Western countries for reference. The guest should be arranged on the right of the host. At present, when people hold meeting or take a group photo, they are affected by this rule. In tradition, Chinese people entertain guests using the Eight-Immortal table. The seat facing to the door is the seat of honor, while other guests are seated aside. The older, the guest of honor, or the higher-level is seated at the upper seat, and the host sits at the lower seat. When there are more than one table, the host and the hostess sit together at the main table. The distance from the main table determines the position of people. The shorter the distance is, the more important the guest is. The main table is a standard. The right table is higher than the left one.However, in western countries, after the hostess announces that dinner is ready, the host should lead guests to sit in turn. The principle of general seating arrangement is to sit according to the segregation of the sexes. The main male guests sit down firstly at the right side of the hostess. However, the main female guests are seated on the right of the main male guests. The other couples are in the diagonal seats.B. The use of tablewareChopsticks, fork and knife are the basic differences between China and western table cultures.1. The use of tableware in ChinaFirstly, lets talk about the use of tableware in China.a. Chopsticks. Chopsticks are considered as an extension of ones fingers. They are traditionally held in the right hand, even by left-handed people. Although chopsticks may now be deployed by either hand, left-handed chopstick use is considered improper. This practice prevents a left-handed chopstick user from accidentally elbowing a right-handed user seated nearby.Attention should be paid to the use of chopsticks. Firstly, if there are remnants on the chopsticks, dont lick. Using the licked chopsticks to take food upsets other peoples appetite. Secondly, we should put aside the chopsticks while talking to others. Thirdly, do not insert chopsticks vertically on the food, because it is only used when we are in memory of someone dead. At last, chopsticks are only used for picking up food. It is rude to use chopsticks to pick your teeth. Chopsticks, when not in use, are placed either to the right or below ones plate in a Chinese table setting. b. Spoons Spoons are used primarily for eating liquid or semi-liquid foods, such as soup, stew or ice cream, and very small or powdery solid items which cannot be easily lifted with chopsticks, such as sugar, cereals and green peas. c. ToothpickFollow these steps to use a toothpick in Chinese table culture. (a) Grasp the toothpick firmly near one end and between your thumb and index finger. Place the pointed end of the toothpick near the gum between the teeth which contains the bit of food you wish to remove.(b) Push the toothpick slightly in underneath the bit of food you wish to dislodge and push up if its between the lower teeth or down if its between the upper teeth. The food should dislodge either onto your toothpick or in your mouth. If its in your mouth, you can swallow it. If its on the toothpick, wipe it off with a tissue or napkin before you continue.2. The use of tableware in western countriesHowever, foreign table culture is much stricter than Chinese one. a. SpoonIn western countries, dinner usually begins with soup. The largest spoon at your place is the soup spoon. It will be beside your plate at the right-hand side. If there is a fish course, it will probably follow the soup.b. Knife and forkThere may be a special fork for the fish, or it may be similar to the meat fork. Often it is smaller. For the main or meat course, the English keep the fork in the left hand, and bring the food to the mouth either by sticking the points onto it or in the case of soft vegetables, by placing it firmly on the fork with the knife. Americans carve the meat in the same position, then lay down the knife and take the fork in the right hand with the point turned up, push it under a small piece of food without the help of the knife and bring it to the mouth. Bread is taken in the fingers and laid on the side plate or the edge of the large plate；it is never taken with a fork. Butter is taken from the butter dish with the butter knife and placed on the side plate, not on ones bread.c. NapkinUsing napkin properly is more than just swiping at your mouth while eating spaghetti or some other messy food. After youre seated, wait for your host or guest of honor to pick up the napkin and place it on his lap. Use this signal as an indicator for you, the guest, to do the same. You can find the napkin either to the left of the forks, beneath the forks, or on the main plate. In a restaurant, the napkin may be folded in a fancy way and placed on the plate or in a glass. Its not necessary to fully open a large napkin; just fold it in half. However, you can completely open a smaller napkin. The napkin remains on your lap throughout the entire meal and should be used to gently blot your mouth. If you need to leave the table during the meal, place your napkin on your chair and quietly excuse yourself from the table.After the meal is over, the host signals the end of the meal by placing his napkin on the table. You should follow by placing your napkin neatly on the table to the left of your dinner plate.C. The content of dietingChinese food is served in courses. A typical Chinese meal consists of rice, one to four meat or fish main courses, two vegetable dishes and one soup. The courses are often eaten up at a time. Soup is usually served after the main course instead of before it. Sometimes drinks arent served. The Chinese are not fond of desserts. Meals are often full of fruits but without any cake, pie or ice cream. In America, before the coming of guests, the host never serves more than 6 dishes. Sometimes, the dishes prepared for guests are extremely simple. The Americans hope their guests are joyful. Meanwhile, they think that invitation is just an occasion for intercourse, a chance of the maintenance of friendship. And the most important is to get much useful information by entertainment. Influenced by this idea, entertainments in America hardly attach importance to food. They create a relaxing, comfortable and delighting atmosphere for their guests in as many ways as possible. They want to make their guest enjoy that good time freely. When the feast starts, the Americans are also warm to guests, urge guests to drink and eat, but only once or twice. They consider saying too many words as a force of their views on others. At last, the Americans like to have some coffee. The coffee spoon is not used to pound the sugar cube into pieces. The spoon is only used to stir the coffee. When people drink coffee, they eat some pastries. They do not take pastry in one hand, and hold coffee in another hand. Drinking does not alternate with eating. Otherwise, people will feel they are greedy. In addition, people do not add sugar to coffee for others. It is impolite to add sugar without knowing others taste.D. Drinking style Chinese usually dont start drinking until someone offers the toast gan bei. Koreans and Japanese use the same word for their toasts. The word originated in Japan. When drinking, one should not drink from the bottle. It is considered impolite to pour a drink for yourself. When pouring a drink for an older person, please make sure to use two hands (a sign of respect). If you want a drink, the polite thing to do is fill someone elses glass and they in turn will fill yours. In some situations, it is rude to turn down a drink that is being offered to you. Some Chinese are fond of playing the finger game (a kind of popular game in China) with the loser taking a drink. Compared with westerners, the Chinese are quite outstanding in toasts. “Gan bei” is heard after every course and guests are often asked to have a drink with the person who is considered as the host or an honorable guest. In China, people usually suppose that you have not truly enjoyed yourself if you leave a social meal sober. A host usually begins the toast after the first course by welcoming all of his guests. Toasts can be offered to the whole table or people sitting around you and they are usually ushered in with gan bei. Even though “gan bei” toasts are offered through the dinner, you only have to empty your glass on the first one when people drain their glasses and show each other the empty glasses (ladies are supposed to take only a sip). The Chinese generally touch glasses with each other during a toast. The first toast is frequently a general one, with everyone drinking together, usually as soon as the first dish is presented. After that it is a general practice for all at the table to toast others, starting with host/hostess toasting the guest of honor. It is not necessary to give a short speech when making a toast but is common to specify the kind of toast. The most usual toast is “gan bei”. Other toasts include “sui bian” (drink as you please), “sui yi” (drink a little), or “ban bei” (drink just half the glass). The whole table often drinks together when new dishes arrive. Ritualized drinking is a big part of conducting business and getting things accomplished in China. Banquet is a standard welcoming gesture and prerequisite to getting down to business. Restaurants often have special banquet rooms with private bathrooms and tables with place set with two glasses: one for beer, one for wine.Hosts will lose face if their guests are perceived as not having a good time and the key to making sure they do is making sure they get enough to drink. Of course, its like a form of communication between people. It would be disrespectful to have no drink with a guest.Alcohol certainly greases the wheels of business in the west, but people can usually stop after one or two glasses. In China, however, the opposite is often true: it is much easier to refuse an initial drink than to stop once you have started. Drinking to develop and cement relationships has a long history in China. When one drinks with a friend, a thousand cups are not enough is a traditional saying. That does not mean bingeing has been the norm. In the 1980s, a study of Chinese classical poetry concluded that heavy drinking had been in and out of favour over the years. Experts have suggested that Chinese habitsconsuming alcohol with food, playing drinking games and toasting in a highly ritualised fashionserved to regularize alcohol intake and limit drunkenness. Chinas reluctant drinkers worry about what all the heavy drinking is doing to them. However, Americans do not force other people to drink too much. They hold different views from our Chinese people. They advocate freedom and liberation. They do not like to force other people to do things they dont like. So drinking is in the same way. To some extent, we Chinese people sometimes pay more attention to the atmosphere of the drinking than the drinking itself. That is to say, Chinese people are willing to create a good feeling with each other at the table and they would like to do some business while they are drinking. However, westerners are in the opposite way. They value the drinking more than anything else. They hold the view that people who are not good at enjoying drinking surely dont know how to live life to the fullest. Westerners usually divide drinking into three sections: the first one is liquor, including brandy, whiskey, vodka and tequila. The second one is beer and the last one is wine. Other kinds of drinking such as cocktail, mixed drink and liqueur are also quite popular. In western countries, people often have a drink with each other especially with the host before they eat anything else at a dinner. You will feel surprised because “cheers” is resounding all the time through the dinner. And they persist the principle of “bottoms up”. Or they can use the expression “Lets make a toast”. It is said that people in the past supposed that putting a toast in the drinking would make the drinking tastier. In western countries, people who drink a lot are called heavy drinkers. If we say someone drinks like a fish, we not only mean he drinks a lot but also agree he is good at drinking and he knows the art of drinking. It is well known that every culture has different traditions when it comes to drinking etiquette. For example, to refill your own wine glass in France without offering more to the rest of the table would be considered impolite. In England, women can pour only mens drinks (not other womens) and if you want a refill, you need to drain your glass. And if youre in Latin America, never pour with your left hand. E. The concepts of timeAs there are different cultures and customs between China and Western countries, our education is different, too. So westerners and Chinese have the different view on time. The westerners always combine time and money together; they think time is as