学术英语论文

1、AStudy of Different of Chinese and Western on table manners Class:04011303 Name:Li Xin No:2013300999 Abstract This paper mainly focuses on the differences of table manners of China and Western countries. In our modern society, the cross-culture communication between China and Western countries becom

2、es a hot issue and the influences of Chinese and Western etiquette are increasingly profound, which causes the differences in table manners. In this paper, we attach more importance to the different table manners of China and Western countries, such as, the different ways people sit for a meal, diff

3、erent dining concepts and different table wares and so on. Meanwhile, it helps us understand the situation. In this way, we can know well the western countries cultural background, and can set up a harmonious relationship with the westerns. Key words: table manners; cultural background; table cultur

4、e 1.Introduction With the development of global economy, cross-culture communication has become more and more frequent, and the differences between Chinese and western culture have become more obvious, especially the differences of table manners. Having dinner is more than the basic necessity of lif

5、e. Instead, having dinner is an important part of social formulae. “John Loke, a famous British philosopher once said, the purpose of playing a ceremonial role is to change the original stubborn to gentle, so that peoples temper can become more moderate and let people learn to respect for others and

6、 get along with each others.”There is no doubt that sometimes some strangers become acquaintances, those acquaintances get a better understanding of the other even to the germination of love. Because table manner is so fantastic that it does us a favor on acquiring more information, opening up eyesi

7、ght and expanding the circle of communication. It is obvious that table manners are quite important in peoples everyday life. There are numberless differences between Chinese and western food cultures, and those differences cause the differences of table manners. China is one of the four earliest ci

8、vilizations in the world. Chinese nation is the only inheritance millennium civilization. Western society went through the darkness of Middle Ages and then came to Renaissance, gave birth to capitalism and modern civilization. Today, with the economic globalization, international commercial activiti

9、es have become more and more frequently and cross-culture communication has come into every nations daily life. In international commercial negotiations, Chinese representatives might have dinners with foreign representatives, while in daily life we might be invited to dinners by foreign friends. Th

10、is paper mainly talks about the differences of table manners between two cultures, to analyze the causes, aim to achieve cross-culture communication more successfully. 2.Differences of table manners 2.1 Arrangement of seat 2.1.1 Arrangement of seat in Chinese way Chinese people always choose round t

11、ables when entertaining friends. There are lots of rules in China about where to put the round table and which seat takes precedence on the same table. In China, people used to use the number of the tables to define the size of banquet. In small banquets which have two tables, the table on the left

12、or farther to the portal is the top table. At bigger banquets that have three or more tables, the rules are much more complicated. The top table is always on the right hand and farthest to the portal. Besides, the distance to the top table is also taken into consideration. Generally, seats that clos

13、er to the top table take precedence. For example, on the wedding party, family members of the bride or the leaderships are arranged to the table that closest to the top table. Hosts show their reverences to the guests by arranging seats by this way. Seats at one table also have different meanings. I

14、n Chinese table manner, the seat opposite to the door is the honor seat, which is for chief guests or elders; the seats beside are the second honor seat which are for other guests; the seats that opposite to the honor seat are the inferior seat. Inferior seats are for the host and hostess. So before

15、 the banquet, hosts should first invite the chief guest or elders to the honor seat, and then invite other guests to the second honor seat. Hosts sit down on the inferior seats after all the guests sit down. 2.1.2 Arrangement of seat in western way Western people perfer long table to round table whe

16、n entertaining friends. The host and the hostess seat at both end of the table, while guests seat at other seats. Men and women are arranged to seat alternately. The chief guest sits at the upper right side of the hostess, and the wife of the chief guest seats at the upper right side of the host. We

17、stern gentlemen are very particular about “Lady first”, they are always hospitable to ladies. In China, left is honor and right is secondary; middle is honor and slant is secondary. While in western, right is honor and left is secondary. The proper way to take the seat in western is to sit by the le

18、ft hand. Elbows can never put onto the table and hands are forbidden to touch feet. It is better not to walk out before the banquet is finished (unless you really need to). During the dinner, it is better to sit straightly. 2.2 Tablewares 2.2.1 How to use and where to put Chinese tablewares Chinese

19、tablewares involve chopsticks, small dish, bowl and glass. At formal banquets, water pump is put on the upper left of the plate, while wineglass on the upper right. Chopsticks and spoon are always put together on the right hand of the plate. Toothpick and ashtray are also necessary. Chopstic

20、ks Chopsticks are the main tablewares in Chinese food culture, they always appear in couple. Its better not to lick chopsticks( whether there are dregs of food or not) before you pick food from the plates. Using chopsticks that licked to pick up food is very impolite and will make other guests feel

21、sick. It is also bad manner to talk with chopsticks in hand, or even brandish chopsticks. The third bad manner of using chopsticks is to insert chopsticks straightly into the food, because only when sacrificing the death do Chinese people doing so. Just remember that chopsticks are tablewares that o

22、nly used to pick food. It is impolite to use chopsticks to clean tooth or scratch, or pick other things that arent food. In China, left is honor and right is secondary; middle is honor and slant is secondary. While in western, right is honor and left is secondary. Spoon The main function for

23、 spoon is scooping food. Sometimes spoon is also used to assist chopsticks picking food in big size. It is better not to pick food only by spoon or scoop too much food at one time. Never scoop a full spoon of food at one time or the food might splash out and stain tablecloth or clothes. The right wa

24、y to use spoon is: scoop the food, and wait for seconds to make sure that the soup will not splash out, and then move the spoon back, enjoying the food. If the spoon is not needed, put it on your own plate; do not put it on the table directly. Once you scoop the food, you should never put them back.

25、 Its better to eat at once or put into your plate. If the food is too scalding to eat, never stir the food or blow by mouth. You can put them into the blow and wait for a while. It is impolite to put the spoon in to mouth, or lick the spoon over and over again. 2.2.2 How to use and where to put west

26、ern table ware In western culture, tablewares for food contain knife, fork, spoon, plate and glass. Western tablewares have a more complicated rule in how to put than Chinese tablewares. At formal western banquets, the tablewares are always put in the same way. The common principles are: the place p

27、late is in the middle; knife on the right; fork on the left; spoon sidelong ahead the place plate; staple food on the left; tablewares on the right; other tablewares act according to the circumstances. The number of the wineglass is equal to the number of wines kind. The proper order to put glasses

28、from left to right is: strong drink glass, wine glass, champagne glass and beer glass. The napkin is put on the place plate. If there is something to put in the plate before the guests sit down, the napkin would be put behind the place plate. Once you scoop the food, you should never put them back.

29、Its better to eat at once or put into your plate. If the food is too scalding to eat, never stir the food or blow by mouth. You can put them into the blow and wait for a while. It is impolite to put the spoon in to mouth, or lick the spoon over and over again. Knife and fork The right way to

30、 use knife and fork is: knife is used to cut food and fork is used to carry food into mouth. If you need to put down the knife and fork during the dinner, you should put them on both sides of the plate, and knife and fork should be put in the way that looks like the Chinese word “八”. After dinner (o

31、r you do not want to eat any more), you should put the fork and knife parallel on the plate with the forks reverse side up. That means you have finished the dinner. You can use knife and fork in a French way that handle fork in your left hand and knife in the right hand; you can also use them in an

32、English way that handle knife in your left hand and fork in the right hand. It depends on your own. Spoon Usually there are two kinds of spoons: the big one is soup spoon and the small one is dessert spoon. Soup spoon is always put on the outermost right side, together with the knife. Desser

33、t spoon is put together with desert knife and fork. 3. Conclusion In sum, Chinese table culture pays particular attention to the order among people. This kind of culture is based on Chinese ethical rule and gives prominence to interpersonal idea; western table culture pays particular attention more

34、on harmoniously use of tools and fuse “man” and “tools” together. Every culture in the world is equal, with no one being dominant or recessive to another. We should avoid using our own culture, morality and value to judge foreign culture. We should treat foreign culture objectively and comprehendly. At the same time, we should insist on our own culture and