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.

    茶杯和茶碟曾经是形影不离的一对，但随着马克杯的走俏，茶碟顿时成了累赘。

    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.

    现如今，另一对形影不离的餐桌伴侣也可能面临劳燕分飞的命运。随着越来越多的人愿意单手进餐，刀和叉正在日益滑向分道扬镳的结局。

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

    刀叉分离无疑让西餐餐桌礼仪专家们痛心，而且如今餐叉的销售额是餐刀的两倍。

    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.

    专家相信，其中主要原因之一是日益普及的即食餐--预先切好的比萨饼、薯条、汉堡包、意大利面条，即便没有餐刀人们同样能够方便地享用这些食物。

    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.

    如今的饭桌上，叉子仅仅是一种餐具而已，坐在电视前就可以便捷地用叉子狼吞虎咽地把晚餐解决掉。

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

    据估测，如今仅有三分之一的家庭围在桌边享用晚餐。

    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.

    越来越多的家庭难有时间或者机会共进晚餐，这也意味着餐桌文化或餐桌礼仪可能难以代代相传。

    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.

    其实右手握叉，单手用餐的趋势在美国已经盛行了近十年。而如今这一趋势更是飘洋过海传到了欧洲。

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

    礼仪专家琼·布鲁克-史密斯是英国独立电视台《从假小子到淑女》节目的常客。她认为餐刀从餐桌上逐渐消失是场"悲剧".

    "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. "

    她说："这种行为实在太不文雅了。我知道美国人（用餐刀）切割他们的食物，然后把刀搁在盘子一边。他们再把餐叉挪到右手边，接着就像动物般狼吞虎咽。"

    "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."

    "这是人们忘记餐桌文化的又一个征兆。我非得要教孩子们如何坐在餐桌前使用刀叉进餐，而不是坐在电视机前拿着塑料盘子用一把叉子吃饭。这太悲哀了。"

    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.

    英国连锁百货公司Debenhams曾比较过主食餐叉与配套餐刀的销售情况。结果发现，餐叉的受欢迎程度远远超过了餐刀，在伦敦餐叉的销售数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.

    该公司也发现顾客们普遍对各种餐具的用途心存疑惑。近四分之一的受访者表示不太清楚餐具的摆放形式，还有19%的顾客不知道汤勺和点心勺的区别。

    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公司正发起一个保护传统饮食习惯的文明用餐活动。该公司计划雇一个精通餐桌礼仪的人到各地做演示，告诉大家完美无瑕的用餐礼仪有多棒。

    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.

    三年前针对2000个家庭的一项调查发现，20%的的家庭从来没正式地用过餐，而其余家庭中的75%则边看电视边吃饭。

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

    这也衍生出一个问题：一些学校不得不指导孩子们如何拿握餐刀和餐叉。