Intercultural CommunicationForeword: Culture Shock, a phrase which is discussed frequently these years, brings about people’s thinking about inter-cultural communication. Considering my interests on it, this semester I majored in an English course named Intercultural Communication. This is a subject talking about some differences between countries around the world. It consists of various aspects, such as food, dress, laws, etc. Investigating its reasons, in brief, they all result from different cultures. At the same time, we discussed what we should do to face it and how to behave to interculturally communicate smoothly and politely. Then, we’ll talk about it from some aspects.Thesis statement:This paper is intended to make a comparison between Chinese and West food systems, table manners, receiving gifts and kinship terms to see their differences and similarities.Outline:1.Food culture differences2.Table manners2.1Tableware2.2Seating order2.3Time2.4Toast and others3.Receiving gifts4.Kinship termsWorks cited1.Food Culture DifferencesFood is necessity for everyone. But what people eat and how they eat are different.China is a large agricultural country, with grain-based diet, plant-dominated, mostly vegetables and grains. Chinese like eating hot food, they think that if the dish becomes cool, the taste becomes bad. Any diet can not do without food. According to a survey, Chinese food has more than 600 kinds of vegetables, six times more than in the west. In Chinese cuisine, thevegetarian food is normal, civilians generally eat mainly vegetables . In ancient times, fish and meat can be eaten only in the worship. China is of long history with a vast territory. Due to the diversity of the climate, products and customs, there are widely different food styles and taste in local regions. Through creation by past dynasties, the long standing cooking art has formed rich and c olorful local dishes. Among them, “the eight major dishes” enjoy the upper reputation, which consists of Shandong, Chekiang, Sichuan, Jiangshu, Guangdong, Hunan, Fujian and Anhui.A common saying in Chinese cuisine has been around in Chinese culture for some time. Its exact origin is unknown, though it attempts to summarize the entire cuisine in one sentence. The order of the directions can vary within local culture. It should be noted Chinese cuisine have gone through numerous transformations through the different dynasties all the way up to modern times. Many different versions of the quote exist on the internet today. One of the most common version under Google’s search suggests an overwhelmingly different versions in mainland Simplified Chinese. In Chine se, it’s “南甜，北咸，东淡，西北酸，西南辣”，while in English, it’s “South is sweet, North is salty, East is mild, West North is sour, West South is spicy.”As to western cuisine, it has a history of 3000 years. Because of the animal husbandry and fishery, western cuisine is based on animal products, such as meat, eggs, milk, etc. Beef is high proportion of meat ware. And westerners are fond of black bread, marine fish, chocolate, cheese, coffee, cold drink. French cuisine is the center of western cuisine. It is a style of cooking originating from France, having developed from centuries of social and political change. Ingredients and dishes vary by region. There are many significant regional dishes that have become both national and regional. Chinese and wine are a major part of the cuisine, playing different roles regionally with many variations and appellation laws. There are many dishes that are considered part of the nations national cuisine today. Many come from classic cuisine in the fine-dining realm, but others are regional dishes that have become a norm across the country. And Foie gras, Fish sauce, etc. are most famous dishes.2.Table manners2.1 TablewareIn China, we use chopsticks. Chopsticks should always be held correctly,between the thumb and first two fingers of the right hand. There are some NEVERS when you use them. Never point the chopsticks at another person. This amounts to insulting that person and is a major faux pas. Never wave your chopsticks around as if they were an extension of your hand gestures. Never bang chopsticks like drumsticks. This is akin to telling others at the table you are a beggar. Never use chopsticks to move bowls or plates. Never suck the chopsticks. Decide what to pick up before reaching with chopsticks, instead of hovering them over or rummaging through dishes. To keep chopsticks off the table, they can be rested horizontally on one’s plate or bowl; a chopstick rest can be used.In western countries, when serving, serve from the left and pick-up the dish from the right. Beverages, however, are to be both served as well as removed from the right-hand side.Dip your soup spoon away from you into the soup. Eat soup noiselessly, from the side of the spoon. When there is a small amount left, you may lift the front end of the dish slightly with your free hand to enable collection of more soup with your spoon. If you are having difficulty getting food onto your fork, use a small piece of bread or your knife to assist. Never use your fingers or thumb.You may thank or converse with the staff, but it is not necessary, especially if engaged in conversation with others.Do not “play with” your food or utensils. Never wave or point s ilverware.You may rest forearms or hands on the table, but not elbows.2.2 Seating orderFor a banquet, the seating order is important. In China, host will face the door, and more important guest will seat nearer to the host. In western countries, because of the shape of table is different, the seating order becomes different. But what is the same with is that the honored guest will be nearer for host.2.3 TimeIn China, when you go to a banquet or a party, you should reach there earlier. While in western countries, you’d better arrive there late.2.4 Toast and othersChinese guests always refuse offer of drinks or food to demonstrate politeness in seeming not to wish to put their host to any trouble. Sometimes anoffer is not a real offer but a polite remark. After we say 'no', we usually wait for the second and third offer. If the host just brings the food or drink and ignores 'no', we should accept it. Chinese like to press their guests to drink or eat to show their hospitality. While westerners always accept or refuse offer of drinks or food very genuinely. Their refusal is accepted as genuine. Westerners don’t to press. To press people to have food or drink after they have refused is frowned upon and can cause embarrassments.3.Receiving giftsIn the West, it is regarded as polite to open gifts as soon as they are given to express appreciation. In China, the situation is quite the reverse. Normally we Chinese feel that if you open the gift as soon as it is given, you might embarrass the person who gives the gift and you might be thought greedy. Therefore, Chinese people tend to open the gifts after the visitors have left.In China, many people send gifts without wrapping them, and if they wrap them, they usually tell the receiver what is inside, and the receiver will thank the sender and put the gift aside without unwrapping them since they already know what is inside. English receivers open the gifts in front of the senders of the gifts.4.Kinship termsIn Chinese culture, people refer to people strictly according to the kinship terms. It is completely unacceptable to refer to one's parents by using the names. When children address relatives, Chinese kinship terms tell whether they are older or younger than their father or mother. Chinese kinship terms tell whether the relatives are from the mother' or father's side and whether one's brother, sister or cousin is older or younger than he or she. Chinese kinship terms are also to other people who are not one's relatives; kinship terms are widely used to address known or unknown peopleWhile in English culture, in some families in Western countries, some children address their parents directly by their first names. In Britain, children are expected to address the parents' brother and sisters with the title of Uncle or Aunt plus their names and sometimes simply address them by first name without a title. English kinship terms don’t tell whether the relatives are from the mother' or father's side, and there are not distinct kinship terms for elder brother or younger brother. Kinship terms are not as frequently used as inChinese. In all kinds of social situations, either formally or informally, people won't use kin terms to address each other if they are not relatives.5.ConclusionChinese and West culture have their own characteristics, which results in differences on food systems, table manners, receiving gifts, kinship terms, etc.A comparison of West and Chinese on those aspects can not only help students clarify some of the confusion in learning those but also help teachers to explain to students the differences between the different cultures．Works citedWikipedia 《中国菜》百度文库《跨文化交际》《中外饮食文化》何宏北京大学出版社2007/9/1版《中西饮食文化比较》杜莉四川科技出版社2007/3/1版Intercultural CommunicationName XXXAcademy and Class XXXXXX班Number XXXXXXTel XXXXXXXXE-mail XXXXXXXTeacher XXXTime 20XX/XX/XX。