table manner

Citation : Zhang, Xiaochi (2013): “Talking About Cultural Influence on Table Manner from Intercultural Adaption – A Case Study of My Canadian Friend’s Story”, International Journal of Arts and Commerce

In this article, it is explained that people need to eat in order to survive. But when people eat, it is clearly that they are adapting their culture. It means that what people eat, when they eat, and the manners in which they eat are all patterned by culture (Xu, 2012,43p). Therefore, when people enter a new country, they must adapt the new culture or the new country including a new living patterns and environment. In this way, the foreigner may have good intercultural communication with native people and finally merge into a new culture and a new social living environment. In short, a foreigner should know some basic knowledge about local cultural customs especially including table manner. Because table manners are not just an important social communicative form, but also an important symbol which represents the local culture and cultural customs. Table manner seems like simple customs on the surface but there are sure to be a big problem in intercultural adaptation. Table manners also can even affect his or her success both in intercultural adaptation and professional careers. Therefore, any person cannot ignore learning any table manners from a new culture before entering a new country. Any person should know that table manners are an integral part of the specific culture and learn some fundamental knowledge and skills about table manners. In this way, people will not only master table manners but also gradually understand the culture. It will be of benefit to improve any individual’s intercultural adaptation ability. As a result, culture does not present an abstract concept or a sign and also puts down roots in our daily life. And culture permeates any customs just like table manners. Hence, any foreigner who wants to learn and know a new culture should start learning cultural customs like table manners from the very beginning. Only can anyone adopt an active and respectful attitude towards a new culture and its table manners when he or she communicate with others from another culture.