A Comparative Study of Refusal Speech Acts in Chinese and American Family Interactive Discourses

本研究以《家有儿女》和《摩登家庭》为语料，结合定量统计与定性分析，探讨中美家庭互动中拒绝言语行为的形式特征、语义逻辑及文化动因。研究发现，中国家庭以间接拒绝为主，通过“解释 + 补偿”等策略维护集体和谐；美国家庭倾向直接拒绝，强调个体自主性。研究揭示了集体主义与个人主义文化对家庭沟通模式的深层塑造，为跨文化交际提供实证参考。This study conducts a cross-cultural comparison of refusal speech acts in family interaction discourses between China and the United States, using the Chinese TV series “Home with Kids” and the American series “Modern Family” as primary data. Through quantitative statistics and qualitative analysis, the research identifies that Chinese families predominantly employ indirect refusal strategies (e.g., explanation + compensation) to maintain collective harmony, while American families prefer direct strategies that emphasize individual autonomy. The study reveals how collectivist and individualist cultural values deeply shape the linguistic features and semantic logic of refusals in family contexts, providing empirical insights for intercultural communication and language teaching.