From: glen@slate.cs.wisc.edu (Glen Ecklund)
Subject: Re: Knives and forks
Organization: U of Wisconsin Madison - Computer Sciences
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 16:01:16 GMT

sp@osf.org (Simon Patience) writes:

>In article <92350.145832HERSCH@auvm.american.edu>, <HERSCH@auvm.american.edu> writes:

>UK cutlery (in my experience) have the manufacturers name on the stem or
>the back of the part in your hand. Both the convex and concave side at the
>business end may be decorated but is not necessaarily so.

In the US, the name is on the convex side, which is hidden when the fork
is placed on the table or plate, right-side up.  Are UK forks placed
name-side up?  My guess is that I would have noticed if they were.

>Try putting a fork into your mouth convex size up and then concave side 
>up and you will find one of two things, when the concave side is up (US 
>usage) either your elbows will stick out more or your wrist will hurt
>if you try to keep them in. In British schools, as many kids are jammed
>onto a table as possible (it is a small island remember) so the art of
>keeping the elbows tucked in is developed at an early age and this all
>helps.

I think you haven't learned to hold your fork as I have.  I use a different
grip for the right hand, concave-up, and for the left hand, convex up.
My right-hand grip is similar to my pencil grip (which may or may not be like
yours), but my wrist is tilted, so that the fork is more horizontal than
my pencil, and my fingers are spread farther along the handle (mostly,
my thumb is pulled back toward the end of the handle).  Also, the most
comfortable angle has the fork approximately parallel to my body, i.e.
both ends of the fork equidistant from my body.

>> It strikes me as odd, too. But you go too far in imputing this behavior
>> to "Europeans". It is my observation that the English do indeed wield
>> their cutlery in this manner, but that continental Europeans do not,
>> holding the fork concave-side upwards during mouthful preparation and
>> plate-to-mouth transfer operations. 

>Although I think you go to far the other way. I know of Europeans who do
>follow the British manner. 

So do I.

>> I intend no insult to the English,
>> or at least none beyond their manner of table-implement manipulation,
>> but I find the way they eat bizarre.

>The feeling is completely mutual. :-)

Gee, something we can all agree upon.

>> Not only do they hold their
>> forks upside down, not only do they mash peas on to the backsides
>> of their forks with a knife, but I've observed many who will mash
>> or spear a bit of every item on the plate for a single mouthful --
>> perhaps a bite of beefsteak, some peas, some mashed potatoes, and
>> a bit of salad.

>Not everyone mashes peas onto a fork, some of us can manage without the
>mashing. It takes years of practice though and the use of an otherwise
>idle part of your brain.

So that's how you use all the time you save by not switching hands.
I guess it's an investment -- you spend it as a child, and get it back
for the rest of your life.
-- 
Every child shall be treated with complete respect.

Glen Ecklund     glen@cs.wisc.edu   (608) 262-1318 Office, 262-1204 Dept. Sec'y
Department of Computer Sciences        1210 W. Dayton St., Room 3355
University of Wisconsin, Madison       Madison, Wis. 53706  U.S.A.
Newsgroups: alt.usage.english