It has already happened to the cup and saucer--they had a perfect partnership, then along came the mug and suddenly the saucer was redundant.

    茶杯和茶碟曾經是形影不離的一對，但隨著馬克杯的走俏，茶碟頓時成了累贅。

    Now it looks as if another great dining table coupling is coming to an end. The knife and fork are increasingly going their separate ways as more and more diners opt for single-handed eating.

    現如今，另一對形影不離的餐桌伴侶也可能面臨勞燕分飛的命運。隨著越來越多的人愿意單手進餐，刀和叉正在日益滑向分道揚鑣的結局。

    In a move that will leave etiquette experts in despair, forks are outselling knives by two to one.

    刀叉分離無疑讓西餐餐桌禮儀專家們痛心，而且如今餐叉的銷售額是餐刀的兩倍。

    Experts believe one of the main reasons is the growing popularity of ready meals, pre-cut pizzas, chips, burgers and pasta--all of which can easily be eaten without a knife.

    專家相信，其中主要原因之一是日益普及的即食餐--預先切好的比薩餅、薯條、漢堡包、意大利面條，即便沒有餐刀人們同樣能夠方便地享用這些食物。

    At the modern dining table the fork is the only item of cutlery needed to wolf down a quick convenience meal in front of the television at the end of the day.

    如今的飯桌上，叉子僅僅是一種餐具而已，坐在電視前就可以便捷地用叉子狼吞虎咽地把晚餐解決掉。

    It is estimated that only a third of families now eat most of their meals together at the table.

    據估測，如今僅有三分之一的家庭圍在桌邊享用晚餐。

    An increasing number of families have too little time or inclination to eat together at the dinner table, where good manners could be passed on.

    越來越多的家庭難有時間或者機會共進晚餐，這也意味著餐桌文化或餐桌禮儀可能難以代代相傳。

    The trend towards one-handed eating--one "multi-purpose" fork held in the right hand--has been common in America for the best part of a decade. But now it appears to have drifted across the Atlantic.

    其實右手握叉，單手用餐的趨勢在美國已經盛行了近十年。而如今這一趨勢更是飄洋過海傳到了歐洲。

    Etiquette expert Jean Broke-Smith, who has featured on ITV1's Ladette To Lady programme, said the demise of the knife was a "tragedy".

    禮儀專家瓊·布魯克-史密斯是英國獨立電視臺《從假小子到淑女》節目的常客。她認為餐刀從餐桌上逐漸消失是場"悲劇".

    "It's such bad manners," she said. "I know the Americans cut up their food and then leave the knife hanging on the side of the plate while they move the fork to their right hand and dig in like animals. "

    她說："這種行為實在太不文雅了。我知道美國人（用餐刀）切割他們的食物，然后把刀擱在盤子一邊。他們再把餐叉挪到右手邊，接著就像動物般狼吞虎咽。"

    "This is just another sign that people are forgetting what a dining room table is. I have to teach kids how to eat with a knife and fork and sit at a table instead of using a fork in a plastic container in front of the television. It's very sad."

    "這是人們忘記餐桌文化的又一個征兆。我非得要教孩子們如何坐在餐桌前使用刀叉進餐，而不是坐在電視機前拿著塑料盤子用一把叉子吃飯。這太悲哀了。"

    Debenhams compared sales figures for large, main meal forks to matching knives. The department store chain found that forks were far outselling knives, with a peak of three forks sold for every knife in London.

    英國連鎖百貨公司Debenhams曾比較過主食餐叉與配套餐刀的銷售情況。結果發現，餐叉的受歡迎程度遠遠超過了餐刀，在倫敦餐叉的銷售數量甚至是餐刀的三倍。

    The store also found that customers were bewildered by cutlery in general. Almost a quarter of those questioned were baffled by place settings--and 19 per cent could not tell the difference between soup spoons and dessert spoons.

    該公司也發現顧客們普遍對各種餐具的用途心存疑惑。近四分之一的受訪者表示不太清楚餐具的擺放形式，還有19%的顧客不知道湯勺和點心勺的區別。

    Debenhams has launched a Civilised Dining Campaign to protect the traditional way of eating. Debenhams plans to hire a butler to tour the country, holding demonstrations on how best to eat meals using impeccable manners.

    Debenhams公司正發起一個保護傳統飲食習慣的文明用餐活動。該公司計劃雇一個精通餐桌禮儀的人到各地做演示，告訴大家完美無瑕的用餐禮儀有多棒。

    Three years ago a survey of 2,000 families found that 20 per cent never have a sit-down meal, while 75 per cent of the rest eat while watching television.

    三年前針對2000個家庭的一項調查發現，20%的的家庭從來沒正式地用過餐，而其余家庭中的75%則邊看電視邊吃飯。

    Such is the extent of the problem that some schools have had to start teaching children how to hold a knife and fork.

    這也衍生出一個問題：一些學校不得不指導孩子們如何拿握餐刀和餐叉。