从《绝望主妇》看中西文化差异
从美剧《绝望主妇》看东西方文化差异
从美剧《绝望主妇》看东西方文化差异作者：朱林莉郭艳英来源：《青年文学家》2016年第29期摘要：电视剧对于一个国家来说是一个国家文化的载体，电视剧这种艺术形式源于生活，因此能够将社会生活的各个方面很直观地体现出来。
最近几年，美剧在中国市场的热度越来越高，《绝望的主妇》这部讲述了四位性格迥然不同的家庭主妇以及发生在她们日常生活中的一系列纷争谜团的电视剧深受广大中国观众的喜爱。
由于不同地域的不同文化背景，对于同样的事情会抱有不同的理解方式。
本文透过对《绝望的主妇》进行观赏，剧情和演员演绎的分析简单的对中美在文化之间的差异进行了讨论。
关键词：美剧；绝望主妇；东西文化[中图分类号]：J9 [文献标识码]：A[文章编号]：1002-2139（2016）-29--011. 东西方文化存在的差异1.1接人待物的处事方式对于中国人来说，非常喜欢广结四海朋友以及很擅长进行人际交往。
然而对于美国人来说人际关系较为简单，相对而言更注重的是法律，具有很强的法律意识。
中国自古以来对礼仪的要求程度很高，往往通过言语将中国人的自谦和敬人体现出来。
如果得到别人赞扬，中国人的普遍表现为使用谦词来将自己的谦虚表达出来。
1.2人生观念在中国的传统文化中所强调的一直是集体主义，美国的文化主要是以个人主义为重点。
在中国人所受到的教育中逐渐形成的价值观为集体利益和个人利益发生冲突的时候，要更加重视集体利益，中国人认为集体利益高于个人利益，我们的社会歌颂奉献精神。
同时，中国人对自己的集体归属感非常重视，要求自己必须和集体有着一致的步调。
我们身边有着非常丰富的实例，例如，“班级”“寝室”等，就是非常明显的集体概念。
另外，中国人对街坊邻里之间的关系也是非常重视的，“远亲不如近邻”就是集体归属感的一种完美体现。
1.3宗教信仰在中国，中国人多数为无神论者，部分人是佛教追随者。
但是中国人通常情况下并没有表现出自己有多么的虔诚，然而，他们并不是从始至终都是虔诚的教徒，往往是当他们遇到一些不幸的事情或者想要祈求好运时而已。
从《绝望的主妇》中丽奈特的教育观／家庭观看中西方文化的差异
【 关键词】 教 育观 ； 家庭观 ； 中西方 ； 文化； 差异 中图分类号 ： Ｊ ９ ０ ５ 文献标识码 ： Ａ 文章编 号 ： １ ６ ７ ２ — ８ ６ １ ０ （ ２ ０ １ ３） ９ — ０ ０ ４ ２ — ０ ２
不 同的 国家 、 地域 以及不 同文 化环境 中的人们 ， 对 于家 庭观和教育 观有着不一样 的理解 和诠 释 ， 因此 ， 中西方 在各 个领域存在 着较大差异 ， 其 家庭 观 、 教育观也存 在着较 大差
作家作品
从《 绝望的主妇》 中丽奈特的教育观／
家庭 观看 中西 方 文化 的差 异
。宏 杰
（ 内蒙古财经大学 外国语 学院 ， 内蒙古 呼和浩特 ０ １ ０ ０ ５ ０ ）
【 摘 要】 东 西方文化 自古 以来 由于地域环境 、 人文 、 风俗 的差异而呈现 出各 种各样 的差别 ， 这些差别表
现 在 社 会 以及 生 活 的 各 个 方 面 ， 比如 家 庭 、 教 育、 社会文化 、 风 俗 习惯 等 方 面 。 本 文 针 对 电视 剧 《 绝 望的主妇》
中呈 现 出来 的 西 方 国 家 生 活 文 化 的 态势 ， 让 我 们 从 剧 中丽 奈 特 的家 庭 观 、 教 育 观 等 不 同方 面 去 看 西 方 文 化 ， 并 针 对 剧 中体 现 出来 的教 育 观 、 家 庭 观 同 中 国 的教 育观 及 家 庭 观 进 行 适 当对 比 ， 以便 我们 从 中 受 到 启 发 ， 了
空间， 她用一个“ 泡泡糖 ” 的甜 ， 让孩子 自然地 尝到了“ 苦头 ” ， 给孩子 自己去尝试 的机会 ，她用这种特殊 的方 法教育孩子 ，
下面我们就针对《 绝 望的主妇 》 中丽奈特 的一 些故事 ， 看
从美剧《绝望主妇》的字幕翻译看中西地域文化差异对翻译的影响
文 化 视 点
从美剧《绝望主妇》的字幕翻译看中西 地域文化差异对翻译的影响
王相玉 王春妮
字幕翻译近年来逐渐受到学者和译者的关注， 他们从各个方面提出该翻译类型的特点和翻译方法。 《绝望主妇》是一部关于美国家庭生活的电视剧，该 剧一经播放，立即大受欢迎，剧中的字幕翻译也得到 人们的广泛关注。本文通过该剧的字幕翻译，展现地 域文化差异对翻译的影响，使中国观众对作品内容更 加了解。 地域文化指的是特定区域源远流长、独具特色， 传承至今仍发挥作用的文化传统， 是特定区域的生态、 民俗、传统、习惯等文明表现。自古以来，中国一直 就是一个多民族国家，并且是一个农业大国，所以中 国语言的发展与多民族和农业有很深的渊源。而美国 是一个文化多元性的国家。土著民印第安文化由于近 一百年来逐渐衰落，白人世界的文化在美国占主导地 位，黑人文化也十分流行。美国的东西部文化也存在 较大差别，美国东部文化是英国和法国等国家在殖民 时期形成的，而西部文化则是西进运动以来美国自己 发展形成的。 在互联网高速发展的今天，通过观看外国影视 作品来学习外语成为众多中国网民的选择，这一形式 寓教于乐，广受欢迎。但由于语言、文化差异，大多 数人要看懂并理解外国的影视作品，还需要借助于字 幕。在语言学习的过程中，人们常常将语言比喻为文 化的一面镜子，想要了解一种文化，不得不学习和研 究承载这种文化的语言。我们在翻译过程中，必须考 虑到语言是文化最主要的载体。翻译是沟通两种不同 语言文化的一种重要形式，有非常重要的交流作用。 而不同的文化背景在交流过程中会产生碰撞和冲突，
这一点是不可避免的。这也将给语言的翻译带来诸多 困难和障碍。要解决这一难题时，翻译人员必须熟悉 两种语言背后的文化常识，并且增强文化意识，提高 文化素养。翻译家尤金·奈达指出：“对于真正成功 的翻译而言，熟悉两种文化甚至比掌握两种语言更为 重要，因为词语只有在其作用的文化背景中才有意 义。”由此也可以看出中西方文化的差异对语言的翻 译有非常巨大的影响。 字幕翻译与通常的文本翻译有明显的不同，在 翻译中归属于一种特殊的类型。因此，在进行字幕翻 译时，很难运用传统的翻译理论。因为字幕翻译不仅 口语化、通俗化，它还有瞬时性的特点，会受到时间 空间的限制。《绝望主妇》作为一部非常著名的美国 电视剧，尤其受到中国观众的喜爱。本文通过对《绝 望主妇》现有不同字幕翻译版本的分析比较，探讨地 域文化对翻译的影响。 在《绝望的主妇》第一季第一集中，Mary Alice 说过这样一句话：“I was laid to rest on Monday”（周 一人们把我安葬了）。本句话中的“lay to rest”这个 短语本身有埋葬、安葬之意。人在躺下来休息的时 候，往往会闭上双眼，保持静止不动，这与人死亡后 的状态几乎完全一致，所以“rest”（休息）这个词 常常被人们用来间接表示死亡。在翻译时，工作人员 将其翻译成“安葬”，这比“埋葬”更为委婉，同时 也表达了人们美好的愿望——逝者安息。“After the funeral, all the residents of Wisteria Lane came to pay their respects. And as people do in this situation, they brought food.”该句话翻译为：葬礼之后，所有住在 Wisteria
从《绝望的主妇》看中美文化的异同
从《绝望的主妇》看中美文化的异同作者：黄勋来源：《新闻世界》2009年第12期【摘要】站在不同的视角看同一个事物,可以让我们看到不一样的风景。
一部平民性的肥皂剧,可以让我们透过剧情的发展,角色的演绎,领会到许多中美文化上的异同。
【关键词】绝望的主妇中美文化异同偶然之下开始看美剧《绝望的主妇》,可没想到却吸引了我,电视剧中的女主人公犹如我们自己或我们身边的朋友,有着相似的经历。
每个主妇的生活经历似乎都有自己的痕迹,能在其中找到自己的影子。
剧中的人物,仿佛是我们自己的写照。
因此,让观者感到如此的亲切。
而透过这样贴近生活的美剧,不仅可以让我们对美国各阶层普通百姓的生活加深了解,更可以从中领会到许多中美文化上的异同。
一、Everyone has a little dirty laundry inside。
每个人都有自己不能说的秘密。
看这些主人公生活中的两面性,衣着光鲜、笑颜如花下隐藏着各自竭力保护的秘密,和我们的生活又是多么的相似。
这些主妇都清楚地知道自己要做什么,在维护什么,当有人过于靠近她们设置的警戒线时,她们会毫不犹豫地让对方知道:“我的秘密不容任何人侵犯!”美丽的紫藤街上演绎的是一幕幕不间断的人间悲喜剧。
我们看到的是一个个似曾相识的故事,国度文化的不同并不能割断人性的相通,从人性的角度我们一样能感受这些邻居的故事正发生在我们的身边。
二、God made man equal。
美国人宣扬的人人生来平等的理念在这部剧里却展现了隐藏的另一面:由于种族和肤色的不同,哪怕丽奈特在物质上很富有,但墨西哥移民的身份还是让她从心底感觉不自信。
因此,她更注重用追求财富来弥补自己的不自信,用各种小恩小惠和故作清高来掩饰自己的心虚,这也是她和丈夫不快乐的根本原因。
浮躁烦乱和不自信的心态导致了她的生活陷入越富有越不安宁的恶性循环。
她从华裔的女佣身上找到了一根自信心的救命稻草,但最后却发现丈夫求子心切,竟然和女佣暗度陈仓,甚至曾经对自己唯命是从的女佣竟然开始反抗她的权威了,这更打击了她脆弱的自尊。
中美文化差异--绝望的主妇为例
Desperate HousewivesFirst, in the play, Mrs. Young killed herself, and she was laid to rest on a Monday, after Mrs. Young’s funeral, her friends and her neighbors came to pay their respects. And, as people do in these situations, they brought food. But in China, after someone’s funeral, only the family pay their respects. As usual ,friends and neighbors will come to the funeral, they will leave when the funeral ends.Then, in the play, Edie’s house was altogether destroyed by the fire ,she could use her insurance check to rebuild her house.But in Chinese countryside, people usually don’t buy insurance.Third, in the play, Bree’s husband want a divorce, she want to save their marriage,so she asked her husband to find themselves a marriage counselor. But in China ,most couple won’t choose marriage counselor, they will solve this problem by the family.Four, in the play, Mr. And Mrs.Scavo want to get their sons to Barcliff Academy, first they request Bree to recommend their sons, then they got the chance of interview, Barcliff Academy’s president decide to meet their sons and bring them in forobservation to see how they play with the other children, how they respond to the authority. Finally Barcliff Academy decide enroll children of Mr. And Mrs.Scavo. But in China, children choose school according to examination score.。
从热播美剧和中国电视剧来看中美文化的差异
集体主义和个人主义价值观是中美两国 文 化 差 异 的 重要体现。中国社会强调集体主义价值观，这是因为儒家和道教思想的影响，在思维方式上中国人以辩证思维和整体思维为主要特征，强调个人与社会的关系，主张建立 一 种 以 集 体主义为主要特征的社会。在这种价值观引导下，集体的利益高于个人的利益。家族的荣誉高于个人的得失。热播剧《乔
喜爱是因为他们反映了当下的文化趋势，能够引起观众的共鸣
二、热播美剧和中国电视剧所反映的文化差异
文化是一个抽象而复杂的概念。广 义 的 文 化 是 指 人 类所创造的一切物质财富和精神财富的综合。狭 义 的 文 化 指
的是社会的意 识 形 态，包 括 科 学、哲 学、信 仰、风 俗、文 化 艺术、习惯、人际关系、价值观念、行 为 模 式 和 道 德 标 准 等。本
文探讨的是狭义的文化概念，从价值观来探讨热播美剧和中国电视剧所反映的文化差异
（一）教育子女的观念不同父母与子女 的 关 系 是 中 美 文 化 差 异 的 一 个 重 要 方 面。
这种差异在热 播 美 剧 和 中 国 电 视 剧 中 得 到 了 充 分 的 体 现。在美剧中孩子会做各种兼职，比如送报纸，在餐 厅 做 服 务 员
近些年，美剧在中国受到了观 众 的 热 烈 欢 迎。《诽 闻 女孩》《越狱》《绝望主妇》等美剧在土豆、优酷等网站都拥有 很的点击率。这些美剧体裁不同，《诽闻女孩》讲述上流社会千金小姐的生活，《越狱》讲述主人翁是如何进监狱来拯救被冤枉入狱的兄长。而《绝望主妇》则反映出了美国 不 同 阶 层人民的家庭生活。美剧的故事夸张，情 节 生 动，往 王 带 有 悬疑色彩以吸引观众。阴谋，谋杀是这些美剧的主题。《越狱》描述美国司法的腐败，连副总统也牵涉其中，阴 谋 始 终 贯 穿整剧。即使是《诽闻女孩》《绝望主妇》这些描述校园 生 活 和家庭生活的电视剧，阴谋、谋杀也贯穿其中。与美剧不同，目前热播的中国电视剧大多数为家庭伦理片，如《蜗居》《裸 婚时代》等，或者 是 一 些 改 编 于 名 著 的历 史 剧，如 《三 国 演 义》《水浒传》等，或 者 是 一 些 年 代 片，如 《再 说 一 次 我 爱 你》等。近年很受欢迎的中国电视剧题材还包括军旅题材的《士兵突击》以及讲述经商传奇的《大染坊》、《乔家大院》等。热 播 中国电视剧虽然体裁多样，却都以爱情、家 庭 为 主 题。热 播 美剧和中国电视剧的差异是因中美文化的差异而引起的，而电视剧本身也是文化的一部分，他们也体现了中美两国的文化差异。试图分析热播美剧和中国电视剧中 所 反 映 的 文化差异。从文化角度来看，这些电视剧之所以能受到观众的
霍夫斯泰德文化维度理论下的中美家庭观念分析———以《绝望的主妇》和《家有儿女》为例
霍夫斯泰德文化维度理论下的中美家庭观念分析———以《绝望的主妇》和《家有儿女》为例摘要世界各国之间的交流日益频繁，但交流的过程并不顺利。
文化差异对国家之间的交流有负面影响。
因此，为了减少交流中的摩擦，各国人民应该加强对不同文化的了解。
本文从霍夫斯泰德的文化维度理论入手，以《家有儿女》和《绝望的主妇》两部电视剧为例，分析中美不同的家庭观，最后深入探讨中美家庭观差异的原因,以期提高人们对中美家庭观念差异的认识。
研究表明，在中国传统家庭中，亲子关系具有高权力距离、集体主义倾向的特点，夫妻关系也具有集体主义倾向的特点，其主要原因是中国家庭中的亲子关系受到孝文化的影想，夫妻关系受到中庸思想的影响。
美国家庭中的亲子关系表现为低权力距离和个人主义倾向的特点，夫妻关系则表现为个人主义倾向的特点，这主要是由于美国人的家庭观更多受到西方民主思想的影响。
关键词：文化差异霍夫斯泰德文化维度理论家庭观1 介绍1.1霍夫斯泰德的文化维度理论霍夫斯泰德文化维度理论是荷兰心理学家基尔特.霍夫斯泰德出的一个框架，用来衡量不同国家的文化差异。
通过研究，他创造了五个文化维度，以识别不同文化的差异。
后来，他采纳了其他学者的建议，总结出五个维度。
(1)权力距离:指社会地位较低的人对权力分配不平等的态度。
由于对权力的理解不同，各国在权力维度上存在较大差异。
西方人不太看重权力，他们更注重个人能力。
相反，亚洲人看重的是权力的约束力。
(2)不确定性规避:指一个社会在受到不确定或异常环境的威胁时，是否能够避免和控制不确定性。
回避度高的文化重视权威、地位、资格、年龄等。
生活在这种文化中的人不能容忍极端的观点和行为。
低回避度的文化对不正常的行为和建议是宽容的，涉及较少的监管。
(3)个人主义vs集体主义:指的是整个社会更关心个人利益还是集体利益。
个人主义提倡松散的人际关系，相信个人主义的人倾向于关心自己和家人。
而崇尚集体主义的社会则重视民族关系和大家庭。
从《绝望主妇》看中西文化差异
Film AnalysisTitle: Learning American Culture by W atching DesperateHousewivesName: Li ShaNumber: 201220342Major: Foreign Linguistics and Applied LinguisticsLearning American Culture by Watching Desperate Housewives Desperate Housewives which is a very popular TV series attracted many English learners in China. By watching it, people cannot only get entertainment but also gain some other useful things, especially America's culture. As an English learner, culture is a very essential part and helps English learners to overcome barriers of intercultural communication. During the process of learning, cultural information can be obtained by reading magazines, watching movies, having classes and so on. After watching this TV series of the first season, many typical cultural elements of America are acquired such as individualism, loyalty to the family, and attitudes toward work and leisure. And this article will carefully analyze these in the following paragraphs.First, according to Hofstede's findings, the United Sates tends toward individualism which is one of American dominant cultural patterns. Individualism manifests itself in individual initiative, independence, individual expression and privacy (Samovar, Porter, & Stefani, 2000, p. 62). In this TV series, those youths' independence of thinking and making decisions impressed me a lot. John who is a student in high school mowed lawn for Carlos when he had time. His parents thought whether he did part-time job or not is his own choice, and he should learn to make some decisions by himself. However, this is not allowed in China because parents only let their children concentrate on study. For students, their only task is study. Actually, working in spare time can help students relax themselves, learn to communicate with others and accumulate some practical experience.Another figure is a 13-year-old girl called Julie. Julie's parents divorced and she lived with her mother. To our surprise, she knew that and often persuaded her mother to marry again. When her mother was in trouble, Julie would actively come up with some useful methods. And she even gave her mother some advice of dressing when her mother was going to date. It must be amazing if this happened in China. It is because cultures that foster individualism offer less support to the child, and he or she must quickly learn to self-reliant (Samovar, Porter, & Stefani, 2000, p. 108). Therefore, most parents in the United Sates give more freedom and less support to their children, which promote children to be self- reliant and make decisions by their own. That'swhy a 13-year-old girl would act so maturely. If this happened in China, it must be very different, because parents always hold that children are too young to know these things, let alone giving them advice. These differences can be explained by the characteristics of individualism and collectivism. In the light of Hofstede, in cultures that tend toward individualism, people tend not to be emotionally dependent on organizations and institutions, and they value individual decisions. Instead, in collective societies, people count on their in-group (relatives, clans, organizations) to look after them, and individuals trust group decisions (Samovar, Porter, & Stefani, 2000, p. 68).Second, American poet and philosopher George Santayana said. "To the art of working well a civilized race would add the art of playing well."(Samovar, Porter, & Stefani, 2000, p.65)For Americans, play is something they have learned and relief from the regularity of work. Their attitudes toward work and leisure can also be found in this TV series. Lynette who had given up her career had to take care of four children and perform much housework every day. But she would stop doing everything and play poker with her friends on Tuesday. She said to her children, "Tuesday is poker day." Another typical example is the discussion between Rex and Bree. Because of some unpleasant things, this couple decided to divorce and had an argument: "Rex: Y ou take our time share in Aspen (name of a club), and in vindictive? Come on. Y ou never use that place… Bree: …Well. Y ou know what? At our next settlement talk, I plan on asking for your golf clubs." Once Bee uttered these words, Rex gave up arguing at once in that golf clubs mean a lot to him. What's more, from characters' conversations, some sports metaphors are used, such as "so this is the way of playing hard ball? As a teenager, she felt guilty of letting her boyfriend go to second base." In fact, Linell Davis has further examined this. Linell found that a person who wants to talk business with an American will do better if he is knowledgeable about the sports of baseball, basketball and football, because businessmen encode their meanings in metaphors and images from these sports. And Linell also collected some sports metaphors in everyday American speech, such as, dropped the ball (failed to do what needed to be done), to play ball (to go along with,to cooperate), to play hard ball (to be tough and unscrupulous) and the like(Linell Davis, 2010, p. 51). It's pretty obvious that leisure has a pivotal position in American's life and their language also connects with leisure closely.Finally, while learning self-reliance and responsibility, the child is also being taught the meaning of loyalty. And in a culture such as that of the United Sates, loyalty is generally confined to the immediate family (Samovar, Porter, & Stefani, 2000, p. 109). In a word, Americans also emphasize loyalty to family. And in this TV series, loyalty between couples is stressed. Bree uttered many cruel words when she knew that her husband had an affair with another woman, though her husband was very sick in bed. Look at this conversation: "Bree: I'm so afraid you are going to die. There are so many things I haven't had a chance to tell you. Rex: I'm sorry you are so worried. Bree: It's okay. How are you now, Rex? Are you strong enough to listen to the things I need to tell you? Rex: Sure, hon. Bree; I know you still love me. Maisy (a woman has an affair with Rex) told me. Rex: She did? Bree: As of this moment, Rex. I am no longer your wife. I am going to go out and find the most vindictive lawyer can find, and together, we are going to eviscerate you, I am going to take away your money, your family, and your dig nity. Do you hear me? Rex; Bree… Bree: And I'm so thrilled to know that you still love me, because I want what's about to happen to you to hurt as much as is humanly possible. I'm so glad that you didn't die before I got a chance to tell you that." Besides, Lynette accidentally found her father-in-Law betrayed his wife, and she even didn't want him to stay at her home any more. And when she told this to her husband, she also emphasized loyalty. "Lynette: Well. Y ou know your father was having an affair, and it doesn't seem to bother you that much, and that worries me, because if you find it in you to condone something like that, and then what's going to happen when you've been on the road for 40 years? Tom: Lynette… I'm not my fat her. Lynette: I know. Of course, you are not your father. And we are absolutely clear, I'm definitely not your father. Because ever you betray me, I will leave you, I will take the kids, and I will walk out that door, and you will see any of us again." From these details, we can say that loyalty has an important position in the American family.To conclude, American's attitudes toward educating children, work and leisureand loyalty to the family is different from China, even though there are some similarities as well. As an English learner, paying more attention to those cultural differences will help one behave more successfully in the intercultural communication. But, due to limited time, I just finished the first season of Desperative Housewives and only analyzed three aspects. In the future, finishing this TV series and making a further study is useful and necessary.References:Larry A. Samovar, Richard E. Porter and Lisa A. Stefani. (2000) Communication Between Cultures. Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.Linell Davis. (2001)Doing Culture Cross-Cultural Communication In Action. Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.。
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Film AnalysisTitle: Learning American Culture by W atching DesperateHousewivesName: Li ShaNumber: 201220342Major: Foreign Linguistics and Applied LinguisticsLearning American Culture by Watching Desperate Housewives Desperate Housewives which is a very popular TV series attracted many English learners in China. By watching it, people cannot only get entertainment but also gain some other useful things, especiallyAmerica's culture. As an English learner, culture is a very essential part and helps English learners to overcome barriers of intercultural communication. During the process of learning, cultural information can be obtained by reading magazines, watching movies, having classes and so on. After watching this TV series of the first season, many typical cultural elements of America are acquired such as individualism, loyalty to the family, and attitudes toward work and leisure. And this article will carefully analyze these in the following paragraphs.First, according to Hofstede's findings, the United Sates tends toward individualism which is one of American dominant cultural patterns. Individualism manifests itself in individual initiative, independence, individual expression and privacy (Samovar, Porter, & Stefani, 2000, p.62). In this TV series, those youths' independence of thinking andmaking decisions impressed me a lot. John who is a student in highschool mowed lawn for Carlos when he had time. His parents thought whether he did part-time job or not is his own choice, and he should learn to make some decisions by himself. However, this is not allowed in China because parents only let their children concentrate on study. For students, their only task is study. Actually, working in spare time can help students relax themselves, learn to communicate with others and accumulate some practical experience.Another figure is a 13-year-old girl called Julie. Julie's parents divorced and she lived with her mother. To our surprise, she knew that and often persuaded her mother to marry again. When her mother was in trouble, Julie would actively come up with some useful methods. And she even gave her mother some advice of dressing when her mother was goingto date. It must be amazing if this happened in China. It is because cultures that foster individualism offer less support to the child, and he or she must quickly learn to self-reliant (Samovar, Porter, & Stefani, 2000, p. 108). Therefore, most parents in the United Sates give more freedom and less support to their children, which promote children to be self- reliant and make decisions by their own. That'swhy a 13-year-old girl would act so maturely. If this happened in China, it must be very different, because parents always hold that children are too young to know these things, let alone giving them advice. These differences can be explained by the characteristics of individualism and collectivism. In the light of Hofstede, in culturesthat tend toward individualism, people tend not to be emotionally dependent on organizations and institutions, and they value individual decisions. Instead, in collective societies, people count on their in-group (relatives, clans, organizations) to look after them, and individuals trust group decisions (Samovar, Porter, & Stefani, 2000, p.68).Second, American poet and philosopher George Santayana said. "To the art of working well a civilized race would add the art of playing well."(Samovar, Porter, & Stefani, 2000, p.65)For Americans, play is something they have learned and relief from the regularity of work. Their attitudes toward work and leisure can also be found in this TV series. Lynette who had given up her career had to take care of four children and perform much housework every day. But she would stop doing everything and play poker with her friends on Tuesday. She said to her children, "Tuesday is poker day." Another typical example is the discussion between Rex and Bree. Because of some unpleasant things, this couple decided to divorce and had an argument: "Rex: Y ou take our time share in Aspen (name of a club), and in vindictive? Come on. Y ou never use that place… Bree: …Well. Y ou know what? At our next settlement talk, I plan on asking for your golf clubs." Once Bee uttered these words, Rex gave up arguing at once in that golf clubs mean a lot to him. What's more, from characters' conversations, some sports metaphors are used, such as "so this is the way of playing hard ball? As a teenager, she felt guilty of letting her boyfriend go to second base." In fact, Linell Davis has further examined this. Linell found that a person who wants to talk business with an American will do better if he is knowledgeable about the sports of baseball, basketball and football, because businessmen encode their meanings in metaphors and images from these sports. And Linell also collected some sports metaphors in everyday American speech, such as, dropped the ball (failed to do what needed to be done), to play ball (to go along with,to cooperate), to play hard ball (to be tough and unscrupulous) and the like(Linell Davis, 2010, p. 51). It's pretty obvious that leisurehas a pivotal position in American's life and their language also connects with leisure closely.Finally, while learning self-reliance and responsibility, the child is also being taught the meaning of loyalty. And in a culture such asthat of the United Sates, loyalty is generally confined to the immediate family (Samovar, Porter, & Stefani, 2000, p. 109). In a word, Americans also emphasize loyalty to family. And in this TV series, loyalty between couples is stressed. Bree uttered many cruel words when she knew thather husband had an affair with another woman, though her husband wasvery sick in bed. Look at this conversation: "Bree: I'm so afraid youare going to die. There are so many things I haven't had a chance totell you. Rex: I'm sorry you are so worried. Bree: It's okay. How areyou now, Rex? Are you strong enough to listen to the things I need totell you? Rex: Sure, hon. Bree; I know you still love me. Maisy (a woman has an affair with Rex) told me. Rex: She did? Bree: As of this moment, Rex. I am no longer your wife. I am going to go out and find the most vindictive lawyer can find, and together, we are going to eviscerate you, I am going to take away your money, your family, and your dig nity. Do you hear me? Rex; Bree… Bree: And I'm so thrilled to know that youstill love me, because I want what's about to happen to you to hurt as much as is humanly possible. I'm so glad that you didn't die before Igot a chance to tell you that." Besides, Lynette accidentally found her father-in-Law betrayed his wife, and she even didn't want him to stay at her home any more. And when she told this to her husband, she also emphasized loyalty. "Lynette: Well. Y ou know your father was having anaffair, and it doesn't seem to bother you that much, and that worries me, because if you find it in you to condone something like that, and then what's going to happen when you've been on the road for 40 years? Tom: Lynette… I'm not my fat her. Lynette: I know. Of course, you are not your father. And we are absolutely clear, I'm definitely not your father. Because ever you betray me, I will leave you, I will take the kids, and I will walk out that door, and you will see any of us again." From these details, we can say that loyalty has an important position in the American family.To conclude, American's attitudes toward educating children, work and leisureand loyalty to the family is different from China, even thoughthere are some similarities as well. As an English learner, paying more attention to those cultural differences will help one behave more successfully in the intercultural communication. But, due to limited time, I just finished the first season of Desperative Housewives andonly analyzed three aspects. In the future, finishing this TV series and making a further study is useful and necessary.References:Larry A. Samovar, Richard E. Porter and Lisa A. Stefani. (2000) Communication Between Cultures. Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.Linell Davis. (2001)Doing Culture Cross-Cultural Communication In Action. Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.。