英语畅谈中国文化.docVIP

四级新要求：中国文化段落翻译 模拟翻译实践题集 1. The importance of Chopsticks筷子的重要性 A. 说到中国筷子的起源，有人认为中国是农耕民族，食物以植物为主，用筷子适宜取食。而西方人是游牧民族，以肉食为主，刀叉就来得方便。也有人认为中国是农业社会，工业发展晚，木筷正是这种情形的产物。而西方是工业化社会，金属制品做餐具是必然的。 As to the origin of China’s chopsticks, one theory is that China was an agricultural society and relies on vegetables for food. Chopsticks were very convenient tools for eating. The Westerners, on the other hand, were nomads and lived on meat. The knife and fork were more practical. Others believe that China did not have much industry and therefore, people used chopsticks. The West was an industrial society, so their eating utensils were made of metal. B. 中国文化推崇集体主义，崇尚共有，融合；西方文化崇尚个体。体现在吃饭的方式上就是筷子和刀叉的不同。中国人实行合餐制，用餐的人在同一个盘中取食，用筷子可以限制个别人大量取食。如此一来，既保留了集体主义的形态，个人利益又不会受太大影响。 Chinese culture is developed around collectivism which stresses communion and harmony. Western culture emphasizes individualism. In terms of eating customs, chopsticks and knives and forks are two disparate expressions of this culture difference. The Chinese like to have communal meals where everybody eats out of the same bowl of food. Chopsticks were used in order to discourage people from eating more than others. This was not only a way to preserve collectiveness but also to limit individualism. C. 很多古代用筷的禁忌沿用至今，成为普遍认可的餐桌礼仪。上菜时要由尊者或长者先食。用餐者要尽量坐得靠前，以免掉落食物弄脏衣服。喝汤不可过快，咀嚼时不可发出声响。忌将筷子竖直插入碗盘中，因为这代表为死人上坟。取食时不要用筷子敲打盘碗，或游离于盘碗之间，或把不喜欢的食物再放回去。 Many ancient chopstick taboos are valid to this day and accepted as a norm in table etiquette. Each dish served should be commenced by the eldest or respectable person. The diners should sit close to the table so food won’t drop on their clothes. One should drink soup slowly and no noise is supposed when chewing. Don’t place chopsticks vertically into a dish, as this was the way of making sacrifices to the dead. When taking food, diners could not tap dish with chopsticks, or move chopsticks between dishes, or send food back to the communal plate even if they don’t like it. The E