almendra09 (asker) Dec 14, 2008:

Pastry Makers In fact you are right, I should have provided an Arabic explaination for the Arabic word I asked for. So mostly I meant the third category as mentioned in your discussion: pastry makers whose job is to make cakes, fruit cakes, coffee cakes, banana breads, etc. And again you are right that food-making occupations are very culture bound. I'm thankful for the clarification you privided.

Fuad Yahya Dec 14, 2008:

Arabic term + English explanation = a jumble The English defintion you provided does not fit the Arabic term. It is always better to state your question in the same language as your term.

The question involves additional complications because the division of labor among makers of bread, makers of pastries, and makers of candy is culture-bound. In English-speaking countries, such as the U.S., when you become a baker, you are expected to make bread (sliced bread, rolls, bagettes, bagels, croissants, American biscuits, etc.), as well as cakes, cookies, and pastries.

If you decide to become a confectioner, you are expected to make candy (lollipops, jawbreakers, lemon drops, candy canes, toffee, liquorice, chocolate, jelly beans, Turkish delight, gumdrops, jujubes, marshmallow, etc.) as well as some other "confections," such as chewing gum, halvah, ice cream, etc. Although pastries may be referred to as "confections," pastries are typically the work of a baker, not a confectioner.

In some other countries, the division of labor is different: Savory bread products are made by bakers; candy is made by a confectioner; and pastries are made by a third category -- pastry makers. When you go to a pastry shop, you do not find bread or candy. You find layered cakes, fruit cakes, coffee cakes, banan breads, cookies, muffins, cup cakes, strudels, etc.

So, in your mind, what do you mean by حلواني

If you mean a candy maker, then that is a confectioner in English.

If you mean a pastry maker, then that is a baker (in English-speaking countries), or a pastry-maker for most other cultures.

In general, food terminology and occupational terminology are culture-bound, so terms that involve food-making occupations are very culture bound.