餐桌文化；面子觀；差異；原因；策略

PAGE24摘要隨著國際交往日益頻繁，越來越多人熟知中西餐桌文化。因為文化的差異，時常出現(xiàn)面子沖突或者威脅面子的行為。因而，了解中西方餐桌文化中的面子觀差異顯得尤為重要。中西方餐桌文化面子觀差異體現(xiàn)在飲食文化、點菜習(xí)慣、交際氛圍、座位安排、餐桌話語等方面，其原因主要有地理環(huán)境、文化傳統(tǒng)、思維方式、價值觀念等因素。恰當(dāng)?shù)厥褂妹孀泳S護策略有助于跨文化交際的順利進行。關(guān)鍵詞：餐桌文化；面子觀；差異；原因；策略AbstractWiththeincreasinglyfrequentinternationalexchanges,moreandmorepeoplearefamiliarwithChineseandwesterntableculture.Becauseofculturaldifferences,thereareoftenfaceconflictsorthreateningfacebehaviors.Therefore,itisveryimportanttounderstandthedifferenceoffaceinChineseandwesterntableculture.ThedifferencesbetweenChineseandwesterntablecultureinfaceperceptionarereflectedintheaspectsoffoodculture,orderinghabits,communicatingatmosphere,seatingarrangement,andtableconversation,withthecausesingeography,culturetradition,modeofthinking,andvalue.Properuseoffacemaintenancestrategiesisconducivetothesmoothprogressofcross-culturalcommunication.Keywords：tableculture；faceperception；differences；causes；strategiesContents30321摘要 I5925Abstract II11535Introduction 125066ChapterOneConnotationofChineseandWesternFacePerception 38981.1ConnotationofChineseFace 3129161.1.1ConnotationofChineseMoralityfromPrestige 3117441.1.2CultureofChineseFace 462791.2ConnotationofWesternFace 68384ChapterTwoDifferencesBetweenChineseandWesternCultureinFacePerceptionfromTableCultureandtheCauses 9211752.1DifferencesBetweenChineseandWesternCultureinFacePerceptionfromTableCulture 9131452.1.1FoodCulture 9272782.1.2OrderingHabits 10172982.1.3CommunicatingAtmosphere 11242692.1.4SeatingArrangements 11296222.1.5TableConversation 12135352.2CausesoftheDifferencesinFacePerception 1358002.2.1Geography 13211732.2.2CultureTradition 14181172.2.3ModeofThinking 14196162.2.4Value 1517630ChapterThreeMaintenanceStrategiesofChineseandWesternFacePerceptionfromTableCulture 16283923.1ChineseFaceMaintenanceStrategies 16266023.1.1PolitenessattheDinnerTable 16187373.1.2IndirectLanguage 17274913.1.3CourtesyBeforeAction 18291643.2WesternFaceMaintenanceStrategies 1965033.2.1FrankTalk 19108503.2.2ProtectionofNegativeFace 19304903.2.3AvoidanceBehavior 204134Conclusion 213290Bibliography 2312004Acknowledgments 24IntroductionWith

the

developmentofglobalization,thereisanurgentneedforeffectivecommunicationbetweencountries.Asthesayinggoes,“acrosstheriver,therearedifferenttunes.”Thisworldisalsoacolorfulonemadeupofdifferences.Therefore,inallaspectsoflife,wecanfinddifferenceseverywhere,especiallyinthefaceoftableculture.InChina,abigcountrywithalonghistory,Chinesefoodculturehasalonghistory.ChinesediningtableculturebeganinDukeofZhou.Afterthousandsofyearsofevolution,ithasgraduallyformedaperfectdiningtablecultureinthelonghistoryofdiningtable.AndtheWestalsohasitsowncharacteristics,intheoriginofwesterncultureandoceanculture,worshipofGod,acertaindietculturewhichaffectsitseatinghabits.Allkindsofeatinghabitshavetheirowncharacteristics,whichalsobringsinconveniencetothecross-culturalcommunicationbetweenChinaandtheWest.Inordertoachieveeffectiveorsuccessfulcommunication,wemustunderstandeachothers’communicationbehaviorandcommunicationhabits,andtheunderstandingofthecausesofbehaviorhabitsisthecatalystofsuccessfulcommunication.UnderstandingthesedifferencesandanalyzingtheculturalfactorsbehindthemwillhelpustomaintainagoodimageintheinternationalexchangeandpromotemutualunderstandingandcooperationbetweenChinaandthewest.Asaspecialconceptinacertainculturalbackground,theconceptof“face”isanessentialpartofcross-culturalcommunicationbetweenChinaandthewest,whicharousestheresearchinterestofscholarsinrelatedfields.Thisarticleintendstodiscussthenaturedifferencesandthereasonsofthe“face”conceptbetweenChinaandtheWestfromtheperspectiveoftableculture.The“face”atthediningtableaffectsthewayChinesepeopledealwithaffairs,andhasadeepandwideinfluence.Inordertoachieveeffectivecommunication,wemustexplorethedeepreasonsbehindthedifferences,andestablishthesenseofculturaldifferenceandidentity.Cultureisdiversified,includingculturalbackground,socialhabits,people’swayofthinkingandsoon.Throughin-depthunderstanding,learningandevenresearchofculturalcustomsofdifferentcountries,regions,nationalities,andraces,weshouldestablishculturaldifferenceawarenessandfosterculturalempathyonthebasisofunderstandingourownculture,getridofourownculturalconstraintstosomeextent,andunderstand,acceptandabsorbthecultureofothercountriesfromanotherculturalperspective.

ChapterOneConnotationofChineseandWesternFacePerceptionPeoplehavetwoidentitiesinsociety:oneistherealidentityoftheindividual,andsecond,thesocialroleofindividuals.Inaddition,thereisakindofidentityinspecificcommunicationevents,thatis,face.1.1ConnotationofChineseFaceTheconceptoffacewasfirstintroducedtothewestbyHuXianjin,aChineseanthropologist.Shebelievedthat“facerepresentsareputationvaluedbythesociety.”Itisareputationgainedthroughsuccessandprogressinlifeexperience,andalsoareputationaccumulatedthroughpersonaleffortsandintelligence.1.1.1ConnotationofChineseMoralityfromPrestigeTheseparationof

Chinesemorality

from

prestige

inChinawasfirstproposedbyHuXianjin,afemalesexologistinChina.ShebelievedthatChina’sfaceincludestheconceptsof“morality”and“prestige”.“Morality”involvesthemorallevel,whichisnotonlythesocialmoralityoftheindividual,butalsothemoralself-disciplineoftheindividualinternalization.Therefore,ifapersonviolatesthesocialmorality,hewillbe“disgraceful”becauseoftheisolationand

punishmentofthesociety.

The

face

willbeinanisolatedandanxiousstate.Inthisway,“morality”limitsthebehaviorsthatviolatemoralstandardsandbecomesaninternalforcethatcanlimitone’ssocialbehaviors.

Losingfacerepresentsagroup’sblameforunethicalbehavior.Thoseseriousviolationsofsocialnorms,ifknowntothepublic,willstainaperson’scharacter,triggerpubliccensure,andcausethepersontoloseface.InChina,thefaceis“thick”or“thin”.Ifaperson’sfaceis“thick”,itmeansthatsocialcriticismhasnorestrainingpowerforhim,thatis,ignoringpublicblameorsocialethicalstandards.Ifaperson’sfaceis“thin”,itmeansthatheisverysensitivetootherpeople’scomments,oftenconsideringhowtopreservegoodreputation.Somepeople’sfacesaresothinthatsomeminorcriticismswillmakehimunhappy.Butingeneral,societypreferspeoplewiththinfacesbecausetheyaremorecompliantwithsocialnorms.“Prestige”representsareputation,involvingthelevelofcompetence,whichreferstotheimprovementofaperson’sreputation.

Itislinkedtothereputationgainedthroughself-improvement.Forexample,theluxuryfuneral,luxuryweddingreception,birthdayparty,etc.,whichareheldbytherich,areconsideredastheirownfaceandeffortstoimprovetheir

prestige.

Facescanbepromoted.Forexample,ifapersongivesahelpinghandtodonateapersonalbelongingtoacharityoreducationalinstitutionwhenothershavedifficulty,socialrecognitionwillenhancehisface.Facescanbegiven.Ifyoupraiseothersinpublic,emphasizethetitleorabilityofothers,orrespectotherpeople’proposals,thenyouaregivingothersface.Facescanalsobe

preservedbynotdeliberatelypointingoutthataperson’sshortcomingsorfaults.

Thefacecanalsobeborrowed.

Forexample,apersonmaymakeanotherpersonwithahighsocialstatusappearprivately,inordertoaskhimtodothingsforhimself.

Inthiscase,thepersonistoborrowfacefromtheother.Itisthereputationthatindividualshaveaccumulatedthroughtheireffortstoachieveacertainlevelofsuccess.Butboth“morality”and“prestige”arecloselyrelatedtoChina’ssocialhierarchyandrights.

Intheend,“morality”and“prestige”aretomaintaintherelationshipbetweensocialhierarchyandrights.ThefaceperceptionoftheEast

hasacloserelationshipwiththecultureofcollectivismandshame.Morality

and

prestige

are

twoaspectsthatareinterrelated.Thefaceisthebasicconditionofaperson’scharacter,whichdetermineshowmuchprestige

hecanget.Ifapersonloseshisface,hecan’tmaintainhis

prestige.

Morality

and

prestigeplayaveryimportantroleinChinesesociety.Everyonestrivestoprotecttheir“face”,orhismoraldignity,whiletryingtoimprovehis“face”,orhisreputation.1.1.2CultureofChineseFaceTheChinesefaceisinfluencedbytheConfucianculture,especiallythe“etiquette”and“morality”,formingaspecialfaceculture.AlthoughChineseandWesternscholarshavemadetheirown

definitionsoffacebasedonChineseandWesterncultures,theconnotationoffacecannotbesimplysummarizedinafewwords.Itisnotdifficulttofindoutfromtheresearchofmanyscholarsthattheirconnotationoffaceandfaceculturecannotescapetheperspectivesofpsychologyandsociology.

Thisdefinitionnotonlydescribesthepsychologicalprocessoffaceproductionbutalsoemphasizesthepsychologicalinfluenceoffaceonpeople,butignoresthesocialattributesoffaceandthesocialfunctionsitproducesinsocialinteraction.

Theface

perceptionofthesociologicalperspectiverepresentedbyHeYouhuidefinesfaceas“faceistherespectpaidbyothersbasedonhispositioninthesocialnetwork,appropriateroleperformanceandacceptedbehavior.”Thisdefinitionexplainstosomeextentthesocialfactorsandfoundationsofface.However,

itignoresthewayinwhichfaceexistsinindividualpsychology,anditcannotexplaintheinfluenceoffaceonpeople’spsychologyandbehavior.

Itcanbeseenthatboththepsychologicalperspectiveandthesociologicalperspectiveexplainthemeaningofthefacefromonlyoneaspect,anditisinevitablethatthereisasuspicionofpartiality.

Later,moreandmoreresearcherstendedtocombinethesetwoperspectivesandregardedfaceasasocialpsychologicalphenomenon,whichisconsideredtobebothasocialconstructionandapsychologicalconstruction.Faceculturereferstothethoughts,ideas,behaviors,etc.formedinacertainperiodoftime,

andallactivitiespresentedbytheoverallconsciousness.

Itreferstothematerialcultureandspiritualcultureundertheinfluenceofthefacephenomenoninsociety.

Asakindofculture,facecultureisalsothereflectionofhumanlife.Itisformedbythelong-termaccumulationofsocialphenomenaandpeople’sconsciousness.Itistheneedandrequirementofpeopleandtherecognitionofpeople’sconsciousness.Geographicalfactorsandnaturalconditionshaveanimportantinfluenceonthepolitics,economyandcultureofacountryandanation.ThenaturalconditionsofChina’svast

territory

and

abundantresourceshavemadetheChinesepeoplehaveuniquefeelingsforthe“generosity”and“grand”sinceancienttimes.Ifthesceneisnotgrand,itwillloseface.

Inaddition,thefacecultureiscloselyrelatedtothe“ritual”inConfucianculture.Confuciancultureemphasizesthedifferencebetweenhonorandhumble,knowingthenobleandpoor.Therefore,theindividual’sindependentpersonalityisfullyincorporatedintotheconceptofesteem,nobleness,andhierarchy.

ItistheChinesewhohavebelievedthatthehonor,thenoblesandtheeldershaveaprestige

sinceancienttimes,andthepersonalhonorandshamearecloselyrelatedtotheinterestsofthefamily.

Thepursuitoftheindividualisto

upholdthefamilyhonor,sothattheentirefamilyhasa

prestige.

Asaresult,theChinesehaveasenseofaffection,andtherefore,theChinesehaveafeelingoflove,andeverythingmustprotectboththeirfaceandotherpeople’sface.1.2ConnotationofWesternFaceAccordingtothe

politenessconnotation

ofBrownandLevinson,faceisaself-publicimagethatmembersofsocietywanttoberecognizedbyothers.

Facesarethingsthatareemotionallygiven,andfacecanbegiven,lost,maintained,orimproved,andareoftennoticedincommunication.

Theyalsoraisedthefacethreattheoryandbelievedthatalmostallspeechactsarefacethreateningbehaviors.Requirements,orders,suggestions,arethreateningactsagainstthenegativefaceoftherecipient;apologizingandacceptingcomplimentsisathreattothespeaker’sownpositiveface.

Theyproposedacommunicationstrategies.1)Publiclyannouncement.

Ifthefacethreatissmallorthespeakerhasgreaterpowerthanthelistener,thespeakercanchooseapubliclyannouncedstrategytoimplementfacethreatbehaviorin

awaythatisas

straightforward，clear,

definite,andconciseaspossible.2)Implication.

Thatistohidethetrueintentionofthehearer,sothelistenermustmakeinferences.Thisstrategycangreatlyreducethedegreeofdamagetothefacefromtherealintention.3)Donotimplementfacethreateningbehavior.Whenthedamagetothefaceistoohighorthespeaker’spowerismuchlowerthanthelistener,thenthespeakersimplyavoidsuseoffacethreateningbehavior.Manyscholarsstartfromtheconceptitselftodiscovertheirresearchonface.

WhatismoreprominentinthisrespectisthatAmericansociallinguistErvingGoffmandefinesfaceastheaffirmativesocialvaluethatiseffectivelypursuedincommunicationinaccordancewiththespeculationsofothers.

Indailylife,peoplemaintaintheirfacesbyfollowingsocialnormsandcustoms,respectingthedignityofothers,andmaintainingtheirfacesinawaythatisconsistentwiththeirsocialstatusand

positions.

Basedonthis,Goffmanbelievesthat

“face”strategyreferstoavoidthreateningothers’facesandrepairingdamagedfaces.

Hedividedfaceintotwocategories:faceofone’sownand

others’face.

Hesaidthatpeopleareinvolvedinthefaceallthetime.

“Face”isoneofthehumanconductrules,whichisinfiltratedintointerpersonalbehavior.Itistheself-reflectionoftheindividual,thecenterofsecurityandhappiness.Itisalsobelievedthat“facework”isamutualcooperation.Whetherapersonloseshisfaceisinthehandsofothers.Inordernottoletyourselfloseface,thesafestwayisnottothreatenorhurtothers’faces.Therefore,peoplealwaysusepolitelanguageintheircommunication.RonScollon&SuzanneWongScollonstudiedtheinterfacesystemincommunication,analyzedtheinfluenceofculturalfactorsandself-identityonface

work,andformedthetheoryoffacecontradiction.

Faceworkinvolvesspeculatingandnegotiatingthefaceofthecommunicator.

Peoplewhoparticipateincommunicationmakeaguessabouteachothers’relationshipsandwanttospeculateontheface

andarewillingtomakeconcessionstotheotherpartyinanycommunicativesituation.

The“self”isarealpersonundertheface,andthereareimportantculturaldifferencesinvolvedinthecommunicationwhenspeculatingonthe“self”.Scollon’sfaceisacontradictoryconcept,includingtwosub-conceptstoparticipateandindependence,andthismustbeprojectedinanycommunicationatthesametime.

Incommunication,ontheonehand,thespeakermustpayattentiontotheotherparty.Ontheotherhand,thespeakermustmaintainacertaindegreeofindependencewhilerespectingtheindependentneedsoftheotherparty.Thecontradictionoffaceismanifestedinthefactthatifyougivetoomuchattentionorparticipationtotheotherparty,itwillthreatenyourrightsandindependence.However,whenthespeakermaintainshisrightsandindependence,hemayinfringeontherightsandindependenceoftheotherparty,whileatthesametimereducingotherpeople’sattention.

Infact,thesetwoconceptscorrespondtopositiveandnegativefacesrespectively.

Theparticipationoffaceislinkedtotherightsofindividuals.Individualsneedastandard,contributingorsupportivememberofsociety,whiletheindependentaspectsoffaceemphasizetheindividualityofparticipants,emphasizingthattheyarenotfullysubjecttogrouporsocialvalues.Onthisbasis,Mr.Scollon&Mrs.Scollondevelopedafacesystem.Theybelievethatundernormalcircumstances,therelationshipbetweenfacesisverystable,andthesubjectivenegotiation

are

relativelyminor.Thiskindoflastingandstableruleinfacerelationshipispolite

system.

StellaTing-Toomeybelievesthatfaceisapositivesocialself-imagethatisadvocatedbyindividualsinaspecificsocialcontext.Ting-ToomeyfurtheranalyzedthedifferencesinfacenegotiationbetweenChineseandWesterncultures.

Hedividesfaceattentionintotwodimensions:faceconcern

principle:self-faceor

others;theprincipleoffacedemand:theconcernofnegativefaceandpositiveface.

StellaTing-ToomeyandOetzelputforward13detailedfacestrategiestodealwithconflicts.

Thirdpartiesareinvolvedinresolvingconflicts,apologizing,expressingandinsistingonthethoughtofone’sown,talkingprivately,givingup,keepingcalm,synthesizingtheviewsofbothparties,ignoringtheexistenceofcontradictions,respectingothers’ideas,directconflicts,avoidingcontradictionsandconcessions.

ChapterTwoDifferencesBetweenChineseandWesternCultureinFacePerceptionfromTableCultureandtheCausesFaceisveryimportanttoeveryone.TherearedifferencesbetweenChineseandWesterncultureinthedefinitionandcontentofface.ThesearealsothereasonsforthedifferencesbetweenChineseandWesterninfaceperception.2.1DifferencesBetweenChineseandWesternCultureinFacePerceptionfromTableCultureWiththedevelopmentofreformandopeningup,therearemoreandmoreexchangesbetweenChinaandwesterncountries.ComparingChineseandwesterntablemanners,wecanseethedifferencesbetweenChineseandwesternfaceviewsthroughthedifferencesoftableculture,whichisofgreatsignificancetoimproveourself-cultivationandfurthercooperationbetweenChinaandtheWest.2.1.1FoodCultureTherearecertaindifferencesbetweenChineseandtheWestintermsofdietandcookingmethods,whichreflecttheunique

faceperception

ofChinaandtheWest.

Fromtheperspectiveofdiet,Chinesepeoplepursue“color,fragranceandtaste”intheirdiet,focusingonthestimulationoffoodontastebuds.Onthebasisof

satisfyingone’sneedforfoodandclothing,

higherdemandsareplacedonthetasteandvisualeffectsofthediet.

Andinthenutritionofthediet,theydonotstresstoomuch.

Toacertainextent,itreflectstheChinesepeople’spursuitofpleasurebroughtbythecurrentdiettothemselvesandothers.

Westernersfollowthescientificconceptofdietandpayattentiontothebalancedmixofprotein,vitamins,caloriesandfatinthediet,withoutmuchdiversificationofthedietandthetaste.

ItcanalsobeseenthatWesterners’facecultureischaracterizedby

rationality,measureandboundary.

Fromthe

dietobject,Chinesepeoplemainlyusevegetariandishesintheirhome

cooking,whilemostofthe

meatdishes

appearonholidays,banquets,andothercelebrations.

Atthediningtable,theyfocusonthediscussionofvarioustopics,showingtheowner’srespectfortheguestsandhospitality,whichgivetheguestastrongersenseofintegration.

Westernersmostlypayattentiontosatisfyingtheneedineatinganddrinking,usemeattomeettheneedsoffood,andtalklessattable,focusingonenjoyingtheirownfood,whichcanreflecttheindividualconsciousnessandself-assertionofWesterners.Fromthecookingmethods,24Chinesecookingtechniquesincludefrying,blasting,simmering,frying,andcooking,showingagreatvisualexperienceduringthecookingprocess,andthendevelopingintoavisualart,highlightingChina’sfocusoncateringculture.

Ithasconfirmedtheconceptof“foodasthefirstnecessity”sinceancienttimes,anditisakindoffoodculturebredbyfarmingcivilization.

IntheWest,cookingmethodsmainlyincludeburning,frying,roasting,orrawfood,anddonotoveremphasizethecookingprocess.

Thefoodculturehasstrongutilitarianismandpragmatismcharacteristics,andtoacertainextentalsoreflectsthefacecultureofWesternerswhopayattentiontorealityandself-satisfaction.2.1.2OrderingHabitsIntheChineseandWesterntableculture,thedifferenceinthehabitoforderingfoodreflectsthedifferencebetweenthetwosidesintheface

perception.

Chinesepeople

are

more

ostentatiouswhenorderingfood.Thenumberofdishesandthevalueofmaterialsareallshowingthedecencyofthehost.

Moreover,Chinesepeopletendtopursuetheevennumbers

suchas6，8，10

withthemeaningsof“everythingwillgowellsmoothly”,“makeafortune”and“perfects”

in

order

habitsinthepursuitofgoodfortune.

Therefore,itisalwaysluxuriousandwastefulwhenordering

food,tryingdelicaciesfromlandandsea,includingbirdsandbeasts,andevensomepeopleviolatethenationallawsandregulationstoeatprotectedwildanimals,andregardthisastheirownabilityanddecency.WesternersoftendivideWesternfoodintoseveralcategories,suchasappetizers,soups,meat,salads,seafood,desserts,etc.

Buffetstylesareoftenrecommendedwhendiningguests.

Everyonetakesthedishesaccordingtotheirownneedsandrefusestowaste.

ItcanbeseenfromtheChineseandWestern

order

habitsthattheChineseface

perception

isrecognizedfrom

othersbydemonstratingtheiridentity.Westerners’faceperceptionemphasizestablemannersandbehavioralstandards,embodyingaself-disciplineandenvironmentalprotectionconcept.2.1.3CommunicatingAtmosphereThediningtableisoneofthemostimportantplacesofcommunicationinmoderntimes.Chinesepeoplewhoenjoy

diningalwaysconnectmeal

withcommunication,whichmeansthatdininghasimportantsocialfunctions.

Inthisregard,QianZhongshuoncesaidthat

it’sgivingfacetootherstoeatotherpeople’sfoodwhenyouhavefoodtoeat.

Therefore,whentreatingguests,theChinesepayattentiontotableatmosphereandgrandeur.

Whenit’stimetoentertain,theChineseadvocateacheerfulatmosphereonthediningtable.Offeringseats,arrangingdishes,persuadingpeopletodrinkandfightingfortherighttopaythebillhavebecomecommonatthedinnertable.Theytrytocreateacheerfulandharmoniouscommunicationatmosphere,andmakeguestsfeelthesincerityandenthusiasmofthehostandagoodcommunicativeexperience.

Tosomeextent,itreflectstheculturalcharacteristicsoftheChinesefamily’swarmth,peacewithneighborhoodswithharmonyasthemostimportantthing.

Thiskindofvalueorinfluencethatisrecognizedbyothersthroughinterpersonalcommunicationistheface,anditistheembodimentofthevaluesoftheorientalculturewiththegroupasthecore.Westernersalsoshowedobviousindividualconsciousnesswhentheyweretreatingguests.Theyinsistedonimplementingameal-sharingsystemonthetable,choosingaquietandintimatediningspace,andpayingattentiontothelow-volumeandcondescendingtoenjoytheirownfoodwhentalkingwiththeguestsatthesametable,andchoosingAAsystemwhencheckingout.

FromtheatmosphereofChineseandWesterncommunicationatthetable,theChineseadvocateinterpersonalcommunicationtogainrecognitionoftheirownvalues,whilewesternersarehighlightingastrongsenseofindividuality.2.1.4SeatingArrangementsAsweallknow,Chinaisacountryofetiquette.Chinesepeopleemphasizetheconceptoffilialpietyandloyalty.

Fromtheseat,itcanbeclearlyexpressed.

TheChineseemphasizethattheyrespecttheoldandlovetheyoung.Therefore,theseatingisveryregular.Sinceancienttimes,thearrangementofseatshasalsochangedaccordingly.

InChina,ingeneral,theseatontheleftoreastorfacingthegateisconsideredhonorable.Thechiefofthefamilybanquetistheelderwhoisthehighest

ingenerations,andtheleastimportantoneisforthelowest.

Ifthereisatableforeightpeople,withaseatfacingthegate,therightseatfacingthedoorisforthemainguest.

Iftheseatisnotdirectlyfacingthedoor,the

rightpersonfacingeastonthesideofthedoorwillbetheguest.

Theseatsarenotonlydividedintoupperandlowerlevels,butalsohavespecificseatingorder.

Therefore,fromtheseat,itcanreflecttheChineserespectforthe

old

and

cherishtheyoung.

Ingeneralseatsarearrangedbytheowner,butthereissuchahabitinChinathatnomatterhowthoughtfulandcorrectthemasterarranges,theguestsshouldtakeaseatwithhumility.

Itisnotthattheyareunwillingtoacceptsuchanarrangement,butbecausetheetiquetteisatraditionofthousandsofyearsinChina.

ThisalsoreflectsthevirtuesoftheChinesepeople’smodesty.Thetablesinwesterncountriesaremostlyrectangular,withthemaleownersittingatoneendofthetableandthehostesssittingattheotherend.Generallyspeaking,theseatfarthestfromthedoorisforthehostess,asopposedtotheseatofthemalehost.TheseparationofmaleandfemalecouplesshowstheopennessandvibrancyoftheAmericanbanquet,whichhopestoenhancethefamiliarityofeachotherthroughthearrangementofthebanquet.

Atthesametime,itcanalsodiversifythediningthemeandatmosphere.Theprincipleofseatingisthattheguestssitfirst,theelderssitbeforetheyoungpeople,themarriedonessitbeforetheunmarried,andthestrangerstaketheseatbeforefamilymembers.

ThisreflectsthatWesterncountriesadvocateequality,freedom,theimportanceofcommunicationbetweenpeopleandthe“LadyFirst”thinkingandface

perception.2.1.5TableConversationThereareobviousculturaldifferencesbetweenChinaandthewestintablediscourse.

Chinesepeopleusuallyshowobviousself-humiliationandthecharacteristicsof“self-belittlingandothers-esteeming”inthediscourseofthetableandshowtheirmodesty,prudenceandrespectforothersbybelittlingthemselvesandpraisingothers.

Forexample,whenChinesepeople

invitegueststodinner,theyevenofferdishesthatarepreparedforalongtimeattheexpenseofalotofthoughtsandvaluableingredients.

However,wheninvitinggueststo