The linguistic and cultural script "tea drinking" in Chinese communication

Sun' Ikhan' Postgraduate student, Department of Theory and Practice of Foreign Languages, Peoples' Friendship University of Russia 117198, Russia, Moscow region, Moscow, Miklukho-Maklaya str., 9 1042235303@pfur.ru

The relevance of the work.

Tea appeared in China, presumably, about five thousand years ago, however, it is impossible to exclude the earlier appearance of this drink among the ancestors of modern Chinese. Tea is one of the national symbols of Chinese culture; it is customary to drink it at weddings, during celebrations of various events, as well as just like that in your free time. Consequently, there are certain tea-themed scripts in Chinese linguoculture. They are planned to be considered in the framework of this work.

The purpose of the work is to consider in detail the implementation of the linguistic and cultural script "tea party" from the perspective of Chinese culture and communication in Chinese.

To achieve the goal, it is important to implement a number of tasks:

1. Consider the history of the emergence and development of tea culture in China.

2. Analyze the main words and phrases that are relevant to Chinese tea culture.

3. To analyze the dialogues and statements adopted in China during tea drinking, as well as their linguistic and cultural conditionality.

4. Give idioms related to Chinese tea drinking.

The subject of the study is linguistic and cultural scripts relevant within the framework of Chinese linguoculture using the example of the script "tea party".

Research methods:

1. Content analysis.

2.        Historical analysis.

3. Linguistic and cultural analysis.

The novelty of the study lies in the fact that it provides a multidimensional analysis of the linguistic and cultural script "Tea Party" in Chinese linguoculture. In particular, the specialized tea vocabulary, phraseological units, as well as etiquette replicas that are related to tea drinking in Chinese linguoculture are considered.

According to an unconfirmed legend, in ancient times there lived a man named Sheng-nong, who taught people agriculture and medicine. In order for people to understand which plants are edible and which are poisonous, as well as which diseases can be cured with which plant, Sheng–nong traveled through forests and mountains for three years, and also tried on himself all the plants that he encountered. At the same time, he constantly recorded his own observations. Sheng-nun is credited with the authorship of the source "Shen-nun's Canon of Roots and Herbs", however, this information has neither evidence nor refutation at the moment. This source says a lot about the healing properties of tea, including that it helps treat heart disease, has a soothing effect, and is useful for the liver and kidneys.

During the Tang Dynasty (618-904), tea culture developed rapidly, and the Song Dynasty (960-1279) followed it marked the maturity of Chinese tea culture. The cult of tea is also widespread in modern China. There are four major tea growing centers in China: in the north (Henan, Anhui, Shandong provinces), in the south (Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi provinces), in the southwest (Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou provinces) and in the Jiangnan Historical Region (Zhejiang, Hunan, Jiangxi Provinces) ^{[6, c. 70]}. The paper examines some linguistic and cultural scripts of tea drinking in Chinese culture.

A linguocultural script or a linguocultural script is a set of instructions for linguistic and behavioral codes used for small articulate value situations ^{[5, p. 390]}. Linguistic and cultural scripts on various topics are described: "Doctor's visit", "Exam", "Tea party" and so on ^{[3, p. 35]}.

The word "tea" in Chinese sounds like "cha". In the Russian language, the word "tea" was borrowed from Chinese. It is written with the hieroglyph "?", which consists of two parts. The upper part (?) means "grass" and indicates that the hieroglyph stands for something related to the plant world. Thus, we can say that in China, tea was initially considered as a plant, and only then as a drink. The lower part is phonetic, that is, it indicates the specific pronunciation of the hieroglyphic symbol. Most of the lexical units considered in this article contain the hieroglyph "?", however, there are also those in which it is missing ^{[2, p. 51]}.

In China there are many different varieties of tea, seven of which are main: red tea (), black tea (), white tea (), green tea (), yellow tea (), herbal tea (), Oolong tea (). Lesser-known varieties include fruit tea (), flower tea (?)), chrysanthemum tea ()) and so on. 

In China, it is customary to drink tea while enjoying the actual taste of the drink. Sugar, milk, honey, and so on are usually not added to tea; it is also not customary to use a snack for tea. The exception is dim sum () – products of traditional Chinese pastries, the history of which dates back more than two and a half thousand years, and which are often consumed together with tea in various provinces of China. However, in most cases tea is valuable on its own, and not in combination with other food products ^{[4, p. 6]}.

The tea ceremony in China is called "". It has complex rules that are purely unknown to most Chinese. Nowadays, specially trained professionals are engaged in the restoration of the tea ceremony. Tea in China is usually drunk from bowls (), and poured from kettles (). Tea is brewed both in teapots and in tea pans (). There is an idiom "?" (some varieties of tea need to be brewed in large pots, and some in small ones) ^{[3, p. 37]}. The idiom consists of three parts, the first () means "boil the roots of tea leaves in a small saucepan", the second () translates as "boil the middle of tea leaves in a medium saucepan", and the third () means "boil round tea leaves in a large saucepan". As a result, the literal translation of the idiom is as follows: "boil the roots of tea leaves in a small saucepan; boil the middle of tea leaves in a medium saucepan; boil round tea leaves in a large saucepan." This means that each pot has its own purpose, just like the tasks of different types of tea. The purpose of the pot is determined in the context of this proverb by the varieties of tea that are recommended to be brewed in it. The idiom originally originated in Zhejiang Province in southern China; a large number of different varieties of tea grow in this region, which are very different from each other. In order for the tea to reach the required state, and the resulting drink to have the appropriate taste, it is important to brew tea of different varieties in different ways. This idiom is also used in real life when it is necessary to show the relevance of an individual approach to various people, things, events, and so on.

In China, there is a custom according to which a guest must be served tea immediately after he has crossed the threshold of the house. This is indicated by the idiom "". This custom of Chinese hospitality has traditionally existed in Chinese culture; it is widely practiced today.

The idiom consists of two parts: "" and "". Below is an explanation of each of them in more detail:

= "?" (guest) + "?" (come, come) + "?" (respect, reverence) + "?" (tea).

"" = "" (etiquette, decency, ritual) + "" (home, family).

Therefore, the idiom literally means "when a guest comes, you must immediately give him tea; it means "The guest must pay his respects by treating him to tea as soon as he entered; this shows the ability of the family to follow the rules of decency."

The tradition of serving tea to a guest is mentioned in the sources of the Tang Dynasty, however, its longer existence cannot be ruled out. Currently, the tradition is not strictly observed, so any family member can treat the newcomer with tea. During the Tang Dynasty, when receiving house guests, tea was usually served by younger family members or staff; when receiving important guests, tea should be served by the hostess herself. If it is necessary to treat a visitor to an institution or department with tea, then tea was usually served by secretaries, administrators and staff members, and when receiving important guests – personally by the head of the organization or branch. 

Tea drinking in China can take place either at home or in an ordinary restaurant, or in a specially equipped tea room (). The word "" consists of two hieroglyphs "?" (tea) and "?" (shop). The second word, "", is also constructed from two parts, "?" (tea) and "?" (place, institution). Therefore, these words literally mean "tea shop" and "tea place", respectively. In Russian, both words are usually translated as "tea room".

 As a rule, only tea of various varieties can be ordered in tea shops. Sometimes this is also accompanied by sweet pastries, rich snacks of meat, mushrooms, fruits and vegetables, as well as first courses such as rice or noodles. In addition, you can also play mahjong in the tea room, read magazines and books that are publicly available there, and look at the beautiful landscapes that open from the window of the tea room.

It is also important to note the custom of drinking tea at a Chinese wedding. According to the traditional ritual, the bride is obliged to serve tea to the groom's parents as a sign of gratitude that they accepted her into the family. In this regard, there is an idiom "". Literally translated, this means "one bride does not drink tea at two weddings." The proverb speaks of the undesirability of remarriage for a woman and the need to remain faithful to one man for life, even after his death. Currently, this morality is already outdated ^{[1, p. 11]}.

The etiquette of Chinese culture is complex, but interesting to study. The linguistic and cultural script "Tea Party" in the framework of Chinese culture consists of three parts: the preamble of the event, the event and the result of the event. The preamble of the event includes a greeting and an order for tea (the latter is relevant if the tea party takes place in a tea room). An event (i.e., a tea party) involves brewing tea and drinking tea. The latter usually goes without words, because in Chinese culture it is customary to turn off all possible stimuli for the sake of enjoying a tea drink. Besides, the important part is gratitude for a good tea. The result of the event is the payment of the bill (if it happens in a tea shop) and farewell at the end of the tea party.

           As an example, let's consider several options for a dialogue that can take place during a traditional Chinese tea party.

Dialogue. Example 1.

– ! (Hello! Welcome! Please sit down!)

– (Hello!)

– (Please try the tea!)

– (No need! No need! I can brew it myself).

– (Thank you, your tea is so delicious).

– (You, you. I'm afraid you're not used to drinking this kind of tea, since it's from an unknown place).

– (Thank you for your hospitality. I liked it very much. Goodbye!)

– (Have a nice trip!)

Dialogue. Example 2.

– (Hello! Welcome! Please sit down.

– ! (Hello! Waiter, please bring a pot of tea).

– (What kind of tea do you usually drink?)

– (Herbal tea and white tea).

– (There is a special black tea in our tea room, would you like to try it?)

– (Good!)

– (Thank you, you have such delicious tea! Today I'm paying for everyone!).

– (No, I'm paying for everyone today.)

– (It's okay, I'll pay today, and next time you'll pay.)

– (Thank you for your hospitality. I liked it very much. Goodbye!)

– (Have a nice trip!)

Table 1 shows a set of typical replicas used in the linguistic and cultural script under consideration.

Table 1. traditional replicas used in the linguistic and cultural script "tea party"

Commenting on the content of the above script from a linguistic and cultural point of view, it is worth paying attention to the polite refusal "", which follows after the offer of tea. According to Chinese traditional etiquette, you cannot accept an offered thing or help right away, you must first pretend that you are not too interested in the offer. Since many foreign cultures practice more direct refusal or consent, there is a high probability of cross-cultural misunderstanding when a foreigner, upon hearing a refusal, will not insist, deciding that the interlocutor does not need tea. However, this is not entirely correct, because the Chinese expects the interlocutor to insist in order to then agree. If the refusal is taken seriously, then the Chinese will receive confirmation of selfishness and a low level of upbringing and culture of a foreign communication partner ^{[8, p. 61]}.

The rules for accepting compliments in Chinese culture also differ from the rules in force in many foreign countries, including Russia. If a Chinese receives a compliment, he must pretend to reject it. You need to downplay your own merits or the merits of tea, food, clothes and other things related to it. Otherwise, you can mistakenly be considered an egoist or just not a very polite person in the eyes of the interlocutor. If the host asks if the guests liked it, then they should definitely praise the host for the delicious tea and good reception ^{[7, p. 150]}.

A similar scheme applies in the process of paying the bill. In Chinese culture, it is customary to argue about who will pay, while everyone is fighting for the right to pay for tea on their own. It is interesting to note that the winner is known in advance, and it is the one who invited everyone to the tea party ().  The word consists of two hieroglyphs "?" (invite, invite) and "?" (guest). Therefore, literally in Russian it can be translated as "invite a guest". According to the logic of Chinese culture, the invitation should be expressed, among other things, in paying the bill.

It is necessary to explain to foreign students studying Chinese the peculiarities of etiquette in this case, otherwise they may not understand the peculiarities of communication very well ^{[10, p. 391]}. However, in China it is also possible to pay the bill equally (AA ?) or to agree that everyone pays for themselves ().

It is better to clarify in advance what features are adopted at a particular tea party, so as not to lose face. If the tea party takes place at someone's home, then such a discussion will most likely not arise, since the obligation to pay for the tea party in this case lies entirely with the owners of the house who organized the tea party ^{[9, p. 449]}.

Idioms are also an important component of the linguistic and cultural script "tea drinking" in Chinese communication. The following idioms are the most indicative in this regard:

1.     . Literally translated, it sounds like "Seven basic household items: firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar and tea." These items are still basic in Chinese culture today (with the exception of firewood, provided that the family lives in a city apartment). The composition of the idiom is as follows: ? ( (open the door [of the house]) + ? (seven) + (thing)?+ (firewood) + ? (rice) + ? (oil) + ? (salt) + ? (sauce) + ? (vinegar) + ? (tea). Therefore, it means that when you open the door of a person's house, you can find seven important items there: firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar and tea. Otherwise, the family was considered poor. The idiom is originally of folklore origin, however, used in many sources of Ancient China, including poems and prose works by Chinese writers.

2.     . Literally: "three varieties of tea and six varieties of rice." It means a rich and varied meal. In China, it is customary to cook a large amount of food for guests in order to make a positive impression on them with hospitality. The composition of the idiom is: (three [varieties]) + ? (tea) + ? (six [varieties]) + ? (rice). The idiom is an author's one; it first appeared in the novel Journey to the West, which was published in the 1590s without attribution; presumably, the author is Wu Cheng-En.

3.     . Literally: "unrestrained and uncontrolled consumption of wine and tea." That is, to indulge in extravagance and lead an idle lifestyle. Tea was not always cheap in China, so it was important to use it sparingly for tea drinking. This is especially true for expensive teas. Idioms indicate the need to spend money wisely, being able to limit yourself to unnecessary excesses. The composition of the idiom: ? (waste, spend too much) + ? (wine; any alcohol) + ? (relax, relax) + ? (tea).

4.      . The usual family rice and tea, everyday food. Many Chinese people often eat rice and drink tea in their daily lives. The composition of the idiom: ? ( (homely, homely, everyday) + ? (tea) + ? (rice).

5.     . Weakly brewed tea and liquid rice. Indicates a modest and unpretentious home-cooked dinner, cooked without any special frills. The composition of the idiom: ? (here: weak, colorless) + ? (tea) + ? (pale, weak, liquid) + ? (rice).

6.     , . If you have a lot of tea and silkworms, it will bring you wealth and prosperity. The idiom originated during the Song Dynasty, when China traded silk and tea with other countries, which brought material prosperity to both individual merchant families and the entire state economy as a whole. Composition idioms: ? (thousand) + ? (tea)+ ? (ten thousand) + ? (moth), + ? (ten thousand) + ? (case) + (prosperity). Therefore, literally translated, this means that one who possesses a thousand tea trees and ten thousand units of silkworms will always prosper in the ten thousand cases that he undertakes. In Chinese, the words "?" (thousand) and "?" (ten thousand) often serve to denote the concept of "very much, more than one can imagine."

When studying idioms related to tea and tea culture in a Chinese language class, it is necessary to pay students' attention not only to the idiom itself, but also to the cultural and historical context that lies behind it. This will help students not only learn the language, but also better understand the culture of the people who are its native speakers. It is important to pay attention to the study of such scripts in a Chinese language lesson in a foreign audience in order to further facilitate students' communication with real native speakers of the Chinese language and Chinese culture.