Abstract: With etymology as the core and pragmatics as the framework,Tomlinson discusses culture and imperialism,regarding that culture is a kind of lifestyle and a practice of ideographical expression,which should be interpreted from the perspective of non-elitism,democratic anthropological value,while imperialism should be treated in a systematic,complicated way of thinking which transcends previous interpretation of political and economical framework.With a historical examination of the discourse of cultural imperialism,Tomlinson holds that the core connotation of cultural imperialism is expressed in the form of cultural communication which is unequal and controllable among different countries.Based on his interpretation of cultural imperialism,Tomlinson has formed his own theory in the field of cultural communication.

Key words: culture, lifestyle, non-elitism, imperialism, connotation interpretation, value choice