兩岸「吃」、「喝」動詞使用之差異

Abstract

前人有許多關於「吃」、「喝」歷時發展的研究，但少論及共時差異，即現今兩岸「吃」、「喝」動詞使用之異同，為彌補此一研究缺口，本研究探討兩岸「吃」、「喝」動詞使用差異，及影響兩岸使用習慣的因素。筆者採問卷調查法，調查方言背景、食物質地、盛裝食物的容器是否影響說話者選用「吃、「喝」動詞，方言分為：中國北方、中國南方、臺灣華語、臺灣閩南語四個族群，問卷羅列41種常見食物，並挑選其中9種在日常生活中會放在不同容器的食物，以不同容器的圖片呈現。筆者共回收231份有效問卷，以受試者的居住地、母語選取其中107筆進行卡方檢定分析，有15種食物達顯著差異。本研究發現「吃」、「喝」動詞的選用受方言影響，中國北方方言進食義與飲用義動詞各為「吃」、「喝」，因此「吃」搭配固體食物，「喝」搭配液體、半流體、湯類食物；中國南方方言因「吃」同有進食與飲用義，故「吃」可搭配固體、半流體、與食材體積較大的湯類食物，「喝」搭配液體食物；臺灣華語受閩南語及少數南方方言影響，「吃」亦有飲用義，故臺灣「吃」、「喝」使用情形與中國南方相似。此外，食物容器僅影響北部臺灣人「吃」、「喝」動詞的選用，筆者推論可能與便利商店的行銷策略有關，因便利商店時常推出不同包裝的新產品，進而影響台灣北部說話者「吃」、「喝」動詞的使用習慣。

Previous studies have mainly focused on diachronic changes in the words/verbs used for chi "eat" and he "drink"; however, little work has been done to compare the usage difference between Taiwan and China. To remedy this gap the present study quantitatively analyzes the differences in the contemporary usage of the verbs "chi" and "he" between Taiwan and China, and the factors affecting their usage. Three factors were included to examine their influences on the choice of the two verbs: regional dialect, physical form of the food, and the shape of food container. Forty-one food items were selected to examine the usages in four regions: north of China, south of China, north of Taiwan, and south of Taiwan. Nine out of the 41 food items often placed in different containers in daily life were selected to examine the influence of container on the usage of "chi" or "he". A total of 231 valid questionnaires were returned, and 107 of them were randomly selected for Chi-square test analysis based on the participants' residence and regional dialect. 15 food items reached with significant differences. Results indicate that the choice between "chi" and "he" verbs was influenced by regional dialects. In the northern Chinese dialects, the verb with the meaning of eating is "chi", and the meaning of drinking is "he". Therefore "chi" is always used for solid food, and "he" for semi-fluid food, liquid food, and soup. In contrast, "chi" is used for semi-fluid food, liquid food, and soup with large ingredients in southern China because "chi" has the meaning of both eating and drinking in southern Chinese dialects. Taiwan Mandarin is influenced by Taiwanese, one of the Southern dialects; consequently, "chi" also has the meaning of drinking. Therefore, the usage of "chi" and "he" in Taiwan Mandarin is similar to that in southern dialects. In addition, people live in Northern Taiwan are influenced by the shape of food containers. It was found that this might be related to the marketing strategy of convenience stores, which often launch new products in different shape of food containers. Therefore, food container may also affect northern Taiwan speakers’ usage of "chi" and " he".