Divorce: Why does it happen?
How is divorce talked about in different countries?
Last updated
How is divorce talked about in different countries?
Last updated
Phil Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I’m Phil.
Georgie And I’m Georgie.
Phil In the words of a famous 1960s pop song, ‘breaking up is hard to do’. Divorce, when a married couple who no longer want to be together separate, can be one of life’s toughest experiences.
Georgie During the 1990s, divorce rates in Europe and America were the highest in the world, with almost half of all marriages ending in divorce. But since then, the trend has reversed and divorce rates in the West have slowed. Meanwhile, however, the number of couples divorcing in other parts of the world is on the rise.
Phil In this programme we’ll be hearing how divorce is talked about in different countries. And, as usual, we’ll be learning some useful new vocabulary. But first, I have a question for you, Georgie. In Britain, one day of the year in particular is known by divorce lawyers and relationship counsellors as ‘Divorce Day’, but which day is it?
a) Christmas Day? b) the first Monday of the new year? or, c) Midsummer’s Day, the 24th of June?
Georgie Hmm, I think ‘Divorce Day’ is the first Monday of the year.
Phil OK, Georgie. We’ll find out if that’s the correct answer later in the programme. Getting married very young, and differences between partners’ backgrounds or interests are two common causes for couples to grow apart. Today, Marina Adshade is a professor at the University of British Columbia who studies the economics of sex and relationships, but her life has a very different beginning, as she told BBC World Service programme, The Global Story:
Marina Adshade I married really young, I had no education, I married somebody who is older than me, who had a lot of education and our relationship worked well for a while. And then in my late 20s I decided to go back to school, I no longer wanted to be a stay-at-home mother which was what I was doing in my 20s, and that change in our situation for us just became completely unresolvable. And I think this is true for a lot of marriages because people’s situation changes over their lives, maybe they want children then maybe they change their minds.
Georgie Marina started her married life as a stay-at-home mum – a woman who stays home to take care of the children and manage the household.
Phil Marina married an older man, and although their relationship started well, over time they developed different ideas about what they wanted from life. Marina and her husband changed their minds - they changed an earlier decision they had made.
Georgie Growing apart is one of the most frequently given reasons for divorce, and eventually Marina and her husband’s problems became unresolvable – not able to be fixed or satisfactorily ended. Marina’s experience is typical of someone who finds themself trapped in a marriage that no longer works. Yet unfortunately, due to economic or emotional reasons, many people stay trapped.
Phil So, what can be done? Now, some countries are looking to the authorities, rather than the couple themselves, for a solution. Here, Lucy Hockings, presenter of BBC World Service’s The Global Story and divorce counsellor, Joanna Gosling, discuss a new strategy being used in China:
Lucy Hockings There was an interesting thing they did in China where they introduced this cooling-off period. So, the government enforced this. Does that work when the government intervenes in a situation like this and makes people behave or do things in a certain way?
Joanna Gosling If nothing changes in the dynamic between two people, being told that they've got to cool off and wait a bit longer, I don't think is going to make them suddenly realise that they want to be together. It might be an idea for states to invest in communication programmes for these couples ‘cause that's invariably why relationships fall apart.
Georgie In response to rising divorce rates, in 2021 the Chinese government introduced a 30-day cooling-off period for couples wanting to separate. A cooling-off period is a period of time in which two groups who are arguing can try to improve the situation before taking further action. However, it’s unusual for governments to intervene - to become involved - in people’s private lives this way.
Phil Joanna doubts a cooling-off period will work, especially as the main reason for relationships failing is non-communication. She says a lack of communication is invariably - or always - the reason for divorce. On the plus side, by communicating openly, maybe with the professional help of a relationship counsellor, saving a marriage is possible.
Georgie I think it’s time you reveal the answer to your question, Phil. You asked about ‘Divorce Day’ in Britain, and I guessed it was the first Monday of the new year.
Phil Good guess Georgie, because that’s the correct answer! ‘Divorce Day’ is the first Monday of the year. OK, let’s recap the vocabulary we’ve learned in this programme, starting with stay-at-home mum, a phrase for a woman who stays home to care for her children and manage the household.
Georgie If you change your mind, you change an earlier decision you made or opinion you had.
Phil If a problem is unresolvable, it cannot be satisfactorily solved or fixed.
Georgie A cooling-off period is a period of time for two people to try to resolve their differences. It can also mean an agreed length of time in which someone can change their mind about something they’ve agreed to buy.
Phil To intervene means to become involved in a difficult situation in order to improve it.
Georgie And finally, the adverb invariably means always. Once again our six minutes are up, but remember to join us again next time for more trending topics and useful vocabulary. Goodbye for now!
Phil Bye!
菲尔 大家好，欢迎收听 BBC 学英语的《6分钟英语》。我是菲尔。
乔琪 我是乔琪。
菲尔 正如上世纪60年代一首著名流行歌曲所唱的：“分手很难。”离婚，即一对已婚夫妇决定分开，不再在一起生活，可能是人生中最艰难的经历之一。
乔琪 在1990年代，欧洲和美国的离婚率位居全球最高，几乎有一半的婚姻以离婚告终。但自那以后，这一趋势发生了逆转，西方国家的离婚率开始下降。然而，其他地区的离婚人数却在上升。
菲尔 在本期节目中，我们将听到关于不同国家如何讨论离婚的话题。当然，我们也会学到一些实用的新词汇。不过首先，我有一个问题要问乔琪。在英国，有一天被离婚律师和婚姻顾问称为“离婚日”，请问是哪一天？
a) 圣诞节？ b) 新年后的第一个星期一？ c) 仲夏节（6月24日）？
乔琪 嗯，我认为“离婚日”是新年后的第一个星期一。
菲尔 好的，乔琪。稍后我们会揭晓正确答案。过早结婚，以及夫妻背景或兴趣的不同，是导致夫妻关系渐行渐远的常见原因之一。今天，我们将听到来自不列颠哥伦比亚大学研究性别经济学和人际关系的教授 Marina Adshade 的故事。她在 BBC 世界服务的节目《全球故事》中讲述了自己的经历：
Marina Adshade 我结婚很早，没有接受过教育。我嫁给了一个比我年长且受过高等教育的人。我们的婚姻起初还算顺利。但到了我二十多岁时，我决定回到学校，不再想做家庭主妇，这改变了我们的生活状况，最终变得无法解决。我认为很多婚姻都是这样，因为人们的生活情况会随着时间而改变，可能起初想要孩子，但后来又改变了主意。
乔琪 Marina 起初是家庭主妇，即留在家中照顾孩子并打理家务的女性。
菲尔 Marina 嫁给了一位年长的男性，尽管他们的关系一开始不错，但随着时间推移，他们对生活的期望逐渐产生了分歧。她和丈夫改变了最初的决定，也就是“改变了主意”。
乔琪 感情渐行渐远是离婚最常见的原因之一，最终 Marina 和她丈夫的问题变得无法解决，也就是“无法被修复或满意地解决”。她的经历对那些身陷无法维持的婚姻中的人来说非常典型。但遗憾的是，出于经济或情感原因，很多人仍然被困在这样的婚姻中。
菲尔 那么，有什么解决办法呢？现在，一些国家开始依赖官方的干预，而不是仅靠夫妻双方自行解决。BBC 世界服务的节目主持人 Lucy Hockings 和离婚顾问 Joanna Gosling 讨论了中国正在采取的新策略：
Lucy Hockings 中国引入了一个有趣的措施，即“冷静期”。这是由政府强制推行的。政府在这种情况下介入并要求人们冷静下来，这种做法有效吗？
Joanna Gosling 如果两人之间的关系动态没有变化，要求他们冷静下来并等一段时间，我认为并不会让他们突然意识到自己还想在一起。或许政府可以考虑为这些夫妻投资沟通培训项目，因为沟通不畅几乎总是导致感情破裂的原因。
乔琪 为了应对不断上升的离婚率，中国政府在2021年引入了30天的“冷静期”，即双方可以在这一时间段内尝试改善关系后再决定是否继续离婚。然而，政府干预私人生活是比较少见的做法。
菲尔 Joanna 对“冷静期”是否有效表示怀疑，尤其是因为导致关系破裂的主要原因是不沟通。她说，缺乏沟通几乎总是离婚的原因。但积极的一面是，通过开放沟通，或在婚姻顾问的专业帮助下，挽救婚姻是有可能的。
乔琪 我觉得是时候揭晓你的问题答案了，菲尔。你问我英国的“离婚日”是哪一天，我猜是新年后的第一个星期一。
菲尔 猜得不错，乔琪，因为这是正确答案！“离婚日”就是新年后的第一个星期一。好了，让我们回顾一下本期节目学到的词汇，首先是“家庭主妇”，指的是留在家里照顾孩子和管理家务的女性。
乔琪 “改变主意”指的是改变自己之前的决定或看法。
菲尔 如果一个问题是“无法解决的”，就意味着它无法被满意地解决或修复。
乔琪 “冷静期”指的是双方在做出进一步决定之前，尝试解决分歧的一段时间。这也可以指某人在同意购买某物后，有一段时间可以改变主意。
菲尔 “干预”指的是为了改善困难局面而主动介入。
乔琪 最后，“invariably”这个副词意味着“总是”。
再次提醒，六分钟又结束了，别忘了下次继续收听我们的节目，了解更多热门话题和实用词汇。现在说再见吧！
菲尔 再见！
How is divorce talked about in different countries? Georgie and Phil teach you some new vocabulary.
1.
The title "Divorce: Why Does It Happen?" suggests that the episode is focused on discussing the reasons behind why marriages end in divorce. It seems to be exploring the causes, factors, or circumstances that lead couples to decide to separate legally.
I expect the episode to delve into:
Common reasons for divorce, such as infidelity, communication issues, or financial stress.
Possible psychological and social factors contributing to divorce.
The impact of divorce on families, especially children.
Trends in divorce rates and how they might differ across cultures or time periods.
Divorce is a legal process that ends a marriage.
It can be emotionally and financially challenging for everyone involved.
Some common reasons for divorce include incompatibility, infidelity, and poor communication.
Divorce rates have varied over time and are influenced by factors like societal norms, economic conditions, and cultural expectations.
Divorce laws differ across countries, affecting the ease or difficulty of the process.
Separation: The process of living apart from a spouse without a legal divorce.
Irreconcilable differences: Disputes or conflicts that cannot be resolved, often cited as a reason for divorce.
Custody: Legal rights over children following a divorce.
Alimony: Financial support paid to an ex-spouse after a divorce.
Mediation: A process in which a neutral third party helps resolve issues between divorcing spouses.
Infidelity: Cheating or having an affair, a common reason cited for divorce.
Legal proceedings: The formal steps involved in getting a divorce.
cn:
标题：离婚：为什么会发生？
从标题来看，“离婚：为什么会发生？”这集似乎讨论的是婚姻破裂、夫妻决定离婚的原因。内容可能会分析导致离婚的各种因素、原因和情况。
离婚是指法律上解除婚姻关系。
离婚通常会对双方造成情感和经济上的压力。
常见的离婚原因包括：感情不和、出轨、沟通不良、财务问题等。
离婚率随着时间和社会趋势变化，不同文化和国家的离婚率可能存在差异。
各国的离婚法律不同，有的国家离婚程序比较容易，有的则非常复杂。
分居：夫妻分开生活，但未正式离婚。
感情破裂：夫妻间的矛盾和分歧难以调和，常作为离婚原因之一。
监护权：离婚后对孩子的法律监护权。
赡养费：离婚后支付给前配偶的经济支持。
调解：由第三方帮助夫妻解决离婚争议的过程。
出轨：指婚姻中的一方有外遇，常被认为是离婚的主要原因。
法律程序：办理离婚所需的正式步骤和手续。
2.
What do the presenters say the episode is about?
Answer: The episode discusses divorce and explores how different countries view and handle divorce.
What is this week’s question? What do you think the answer is?
Question: In Britain, one day of the year is known as ‘Divorce Day’. Which day is it?
a) Christmas Day
b) the first Monday of the new year
c) Midsummer’s Day (June 24)
Answer: b) the first Monday of the new year.
In Britain, one day of the year in particular is known by divorce lawyers and relationship counsellors as ‘Divorce Day’, but which day is it?
a) Christmas Day? b) the first Monday of the new year? or, c) Midsummer’s Day, the 24th of June?
Listen to the programme to hear the answer.
cn:
Presenters提到本期节目的主题是什么？
答案：本期节目讨论的是“离婚”，并且探讨了不同国家对于离婚的看法和处理方式。
本周的问题是什么？
问题：在英国，有一天被称为“离婚日”，是哪一天？
a) 圣诞节
b) 新年后的第一个星期一
c) 仲夏节（6月24日）
答案：b) 新年后的第一个星期一。
3.
Write down the six vocabulary items mentioned in the episode and their meanings.
a) stay-at-home mum
Meaning: A woman who stays home to take care of her children and manage the household.
b) change your mind
Meaning: To change an earlier decision or opinion you had.
c) unresolvable
Meaning: A problem that cannot be satisfactorily solved or fixed.
d) cooling-off period
Meaning: A period of time during which two parties in a disagreement can try to resolve their issues before taking further action. It can also refer to a time frame in which a person can decide to cancel a purchase.
e) intervene
Meaning: To become involved in a difficult situation in order to improve it.
f) invariably
Meaning: Always; on every occasion.
cn:
请写出节目中提到的六个词汇，并解释其含义。
a) stay-at-home mum
意思：全职妈妈，指在家照顾孩子和管理家庭的女性。
b) change your mind
意思：改变之前做出的决定或观点。
c) unresolvable
意思：无法解决或无法得到满意结果的问题。
d) cooling-off period
意思：冷静期，指双方在采取进一步行动前，尝试改善情况的一段时间；或者指购买后可改变主意的时间段。
e) intervene
意思：干预，指为了改善某种困境而介入其中。
f) invariably
意思：总是；在任何情况下都如此。
4.
Answer:
Divorce rates in Europe and America were very high in the 1990s, reaching almost 50%.
In 2021, China introduced a 30-day cooling-off period for couples seeking divorce.
Lack of communication is cited as a primary reason for the breakdown of relationships.
cn:
节目中有哪些让你感到惊讶或新的信息？
答案：
20世纪90年代，欧洲和美国的离婚率曾是全球最高。
中国在2021年引入了“冷静期”政策，以应对不断上升的离婚率。
沟通不畅通常是导致离婚的主要原因。
5.
What was the divorce rate in Europe and America during the 1990s?
a) almost 50% b) almost 70% c) almost 90%
Which phrase describes 'a woman who stays home to take care of the children and manage the household'?
a) stay-at-home mum b) soccer mum c) single mum
What is a 'cooling-off period'?
a) time for a cold bath after a sauna b) time for two people who are arguing to try to improve the situation c) time to recover after having an illness
Which word describes a problem which is 'unable to be brought to a satisfactory resolution'?
a) solvable b) resolvable c) unresolvable
"When Imogen's parents were not able to support her, the school ________ to help".
a) interfered b) intervened c) interrupted
Which word is closest in meaning to 'invariably'?
a) usually b) always c) occasionally
1a, 2a, 3b, 4c, 5b, 6b
20世纪90年代，欧洲和美国的离婚率是多少？
答案：a) 近50%。
哪个短语描述了“在家照顾孩子和管理家庭的女性”？
答案：a) stay-at-home mum。
“冷静期”是什么意思？
答案：b) 为争吵的双方提供时间来尝试改善情况的时间段。
哪个词描述了“无法得到满意解决”的问题？
答案：c) unresolvable。
“当Imogen的父母无法支持她时，学校______去帮助她”。
答案：b) intervened。
哪个词最接近“invariably”的意思？
答案：b) always。
6.
Stay-at-home mum
After careful consideration, Laura chose to be a stay-at-home mum, prioritizing the upbringing of her children and managing household responsibilities full-time.
Change your mind
The CEO initially planned to cut the project, but after reviewing the market potential, he changed his mind and decided to invest further.
Unresolvable
Despite numerous mediation sessions, the conflict between the two departments proved to be unresolvable, leading to a restructuring of the company’s teams.
Cooling-off period
The new consumer protection law mandates a 30-day cooling-off period, allowing buyers time to reconsider their purchase decisions without any financial penalty.
Intervene
The government had to intervene in the escalating labor dispute to prevent a nationwide strike that could disrupt essential services.
Invariably
Invariably, the most successful negotiations are those where both parties actively listen and communicate their needs effectively.
句子：经过深思熟虑，Laura 决定成为一名全职妈妈，优先考虑孩子的成长，并全职管理家庭事务。
解释：全职妈妈是指在家照顾孩子和管理家庭的女性。这个角色通常涉及到放弃职场工作，专注于家庭责任。
句子：CEO 最初计划取消这个项目，但在审查市场潜力后，他改变了主意，决定进一步投资。
解释：改变主意指的是对之前做出的决定或看法有所改变，通常是在获取了新的信息或有了新的思考后做出的。
句子：尽管进行了多次调解，两部门之间的冲突依然无法解决，最终公司决定重组团队。
解释：无法解决的，指问题无法得到满意的解决方案或无法达成共识，这可能会导致僵局或进一步的变动。
句子：新的消费者保护法规定了30天的冷静期，让购买者在这段时间内可以重新考虑购买决定而不需支付任何罚款。
解释：冷静期是一段时间，允许双方在采取进一步行动前缓和情绪，重新评估情况。它通常用于购买合同或离婚程序，以防止冲动决定。
句子：政府不得不干预不断升级的劳资纠纷，以防止全国性罢工扰乱重要的公共服务。
解释：干预指为了改善或控制一种不利局势而主动介入。政府、组织或个人可能会干预，以缓解紧张或防止事态恶化。
句子：成功的谈判几乎总是发生在双方积极倾听并有效沟通各自需求的情况下。
解释：总是或必然地，指在所有情况下或几乎所有情况下都会发生的结果。这是一个强调规律性和一致性的副词。
7.
What are three things you have learnt from this episode?
Divorce rates have declined in Western countries since the 1990s.
China implemented a cooling-off period policy to address rising divorce rates.
Communication issues are often the main reason why marriages fail.
How does this topic make you feel?
It highlights the importance of understanding and communication in relationships and the evolving ways societies handle marital issues.
Give three examples using the vocabulary in sentences relevant to your life:
My sister is a stay-at-home mum who takes great care of her two children.
I decided to change my mind about buying the new phone after reading the reviews.
There was a cooling-off period after the argument, and both parties agreed to talk it out calmly.
列出三个从本期节目中学到的信息：
在西方国家，离婚率在20世纪90年代达到高峰后有所下降。
在中国，政府推行了“冷静期”政策以应对离婚率上升。
沟通不畅几乎总是导致婚姻破裂的主要原因。
你对这个话题有何感受？
这个话题涉及情感和社会问题，可能引发人们对婚姻中沟通和理解的重要性进行反思。
用节目中的词汇举三个与生活相关的例子：
stay-at-home mum：我的朋友是一位全职妈妈，负责在家照顾她的孩子。
change your mind：我原本不打算去旅行，但后来我改变了主意。
cooling-off period：购物网站提供14天的冷静期，让顾客可以在这期间改变购买决定。