4.1 THELAYOUT OF TOASTS
A toast normally consists of two elements：a statement of good wishes and the response of the audience by drinking.But in practice，the statement of good wishes is always presented in the format of speeches.
A toast is generally delivered in three parts，namely the greeting，the body，and the proposal to toast the persons to be honored.
The greeting part of a toast aims at drawing the audience's attention.It is usually unacceptable to draw the audience's attention by hitting glasses.The speaker may stand up，look around，and open the toast by greeting the audience.The body can be further divided into three parts.The body part should first of all delineate the relationship between the speaker and the person（s）to whose welfare the toast is delivered.This part is quite important because it authorizes the speaker to proceed with the toast.After this，the speaker should move on to make a review about the history，mostly the achievements or contribution of the person（s）being honored.If it is a toast addressed to visiting officials from another country，the review should be made about the diplomatic relationships between the two countries，as well as the achievements made by people in the country where those visiting officials come.Finally，the speaker should move back to what is happening，namely，what has occasioned the gathering.
The proposal is the climax of a toast.In this part，the speaker summons up the audience's ardor and passion to drink for a list of benefits bestowed to the person（s）being honored，or to drink for the benefit of a list of people to be honored.After the enumeration of a list of benefits or a list of people，the speaker will call for the response from the audience by calling out“Cheers！”with his/her glass held out forward simultaneously.Or the speaker will raise his/her glass at the completion of his enumeration of a list of benefits or a list of people，leaving a pause just long enough for the audience to respond.
Therefore，a toast should include the following information：
●By whom is the toast proposed？
●Whom is the toast addressed to？
●What is the relationship between the toast giver and the person（s）being honored？
●On what occasion is the toast delivered？
●Why does the person in question deserve the honor or what is the person's glorious history that deserves praise？
●What benefits are proposed？
These should be organized in the manner shown in the following examples：
Format 1
Mr.President Hu，Madam Liu：
Laura and Iare honored to welcome you and your delegation to the White House.It's a pleasure to have you here，along with our other distinguished guests.
China is home to an ancient civilization，and it is helping to shape the modern world.In a single generation，China's economy has moved from isolation and stagnation to engagement and expansion.As China has grown，our two peoples have come to known one another better.
Thirty-five years ago this month，the Chinese government welcomed the United States ping-pong team to Beijing.It's an event that marked the beginning of renewal—renewed cultural exchanges between our two nations.Today Chinese athletes compete professionally in the United States，and Americans appreciate the opportunity to see them play.
In 2008，China will welcome athletes from all over the world as your great nation hosts the summer Olympics.Beijing will showcase China's transformation and demonstrate China's commitment to the international institutions that make fair and peaceful competition possible for all nations.(https://www.daowen.com)
Mr.President，Ithank you for the constructive and candid conversations we had this morning.I appreciate the opportunity to expand the dialogue between our two great nations.And Mr.President，I'm pleased to offer a toast to you and to your gracious wife，and to the people of China.
This is a toast delivered by President Bush to visiting Chinese President Hu in 2005.In this toast，the toast is addressed to Chinese President Hu Jintao and his delegation，as well as all the Chinese people as a whole.The toast giver is the American counterpart of Chinese President Hu Jintao，with whom he has held some constructive conversations about Sino-American relationships.It is delivered at the state banquet in the White House to welcome the visiting Chinese President and his delegation.The toast is proposed by President Bush，his wife and all other American representatives at the dinner party to honor President Hu and all other Chinese people for their contribution to the healthy development of Sino-American relationship and world peace，as well as the friendship between the two countries.
Format 2
OK，everyone.
Just a few words about Bill's retirement.
When Itold people Iwas going to make a retirement speech today they got quite excited...until I explained that it wasn't me who was retiring.
Bill，you were here long before Ijoined the organization.In fact，Ireckon you know more stories than anyone about what's happened here over the years.Like that time a horse got into the warehouse a few years back.You were the only one who was brave enough to go in and get it out.What amazed everyone though was when you came out riding on its back！
Anyway Bill，we would all like to wish you the best of fortune for the future.If we get any problems with livestock we'll call you，but other than that have a great time with the fishing.
Many thanks for all you've done for us，Bill and best of luck for a long and happy retirement.
This is a retirement toast delivered in a much more casual manner to honor the retirement of Bill.The addresser is one of Bill's colleagues.This toast is proposed to all present at the retirement ball to express their congratulation on the retirement of Bill，as well as their blessings for him.In this toast，the addresser does not review the glorious past of the person being honored.Instead，he draws a comparison between Bill and an old horse which is just so amiable and assiduous a figure that deserves people's admiration.
Format 3
（Tom stands up，looking around and holding up his glass）
Now Iwant to ask you to join me in a toast to Grandpa in remaining happy and young forever！
This is a toast addressed at a family gathering to Grandpa.This is a simplified format of toast in which the addresser leaves out many of the elements found in Format 1 and Format 2.
Since toasts are to be delivered before an audience in social gatherings，toasts are similar to public speeches in many ways.Both of them are prepared in advance and are presented orally to the audience.
But toasts are somewhat different from speeches.A toast is normally a statement of good wishes that calls for the audience's responses by lifting their glasses to drink，whereas a speech can focus on any topics other than good wishes.A speech can be delivered both at dinner parties and at meetings with the purpose of informing the conventioneers of given topics.Toasts，on the other hand，are always addressed at dinner parties or balls to specific individuals in an effort to celebrate the individuals'birthday，wedding ceremonies，wedding anniversaries，retirement，and so on.In a word，toasts are just statements about the welfare of the individuals being addressed to.Furthermore，toasts are usually shorter than speeches.
In view of the similarities and differences between toasts and speeches，toasts can be prepared and delivered as speeches in miniature.In many cases，a toast is to be made at the end of a speech.Then it can be called a toast speech.For these reasons，toasts can take the format of speeches.