经济全球化的发展增进了不同文化间的交流和合作，也缩小了人际沟通的空间，使跨文化沟通现象日益显现于小至邻里校园，大到跨国公司管理、国际合作项目等各个方面。不同文化间的接触必然产生文化碰撞，可能导致跨文化交际障碍和误解，影响跨文化人际关系的发展。因此，人们急需培养一种能驾驭文化差异、解决在跨文化语境中各种文化冲突现象的跨文化能力。
本书将这一问题作为关注焦点，对跨文化能力的基本概念以及跨文化能力所能解决的问题和范围，作了详尽的分析与精辟的阐述。自初版以来，本书已成为跨文化交际研究领域中的必读之作。

Preface
part one Communication and Intercultural Competence
1 Introduction to Intercultural Competence
The Imperative for Intercultural Competence
The Economic Imperative for Intercultural Competence
The Technological Imperative for Intercultural Competence
The Demographic Imperative for Intercultural Competence
The Peace Imperative for Intercultural Competence
Communication
Defining Communication
Characteristics of Communication
Interpersonal Communication
The Challenge of Communicating in an Intercultural World
Summary
For Discussion
For Further Reading
2 Culture and Intercultural Communication
Culture
Defining Culture for the Study of Communication
Culture and Related Terms
Why Cultures Differ
Forces That Maintain Cultural Differences
The Interrelatedness of Cultural Forces
Intercultural Communication
Examples of Intercultural Interactions
Similarities and Differences between Communicators
Definition of Intercultural Communication
Intercultural Communication and Related Terms
Summary
For Discussion
For Further Reading
3 Intercultural Communication Competence
The United States as an Intercultural Community
Metaphors of U.S. Cultural Diversity
What Do You Call Someone from the United States of America?
Cultural Groups in the United States
Competence and Intercultural Communication
Intercultural Communication Competence
The Components of Intercultural Competence
Basic Tools for Improving Intercultural Competence
The BASICs of Intercultural Competence
Description, Interpretation, and Evaluation
Summary
For Discussion
For Further Reading
part two Cultural Differences in Communication
4 Cultural Patterns and Communication! Foundations
Defining Cultural Patterns
Components of Cultural Patterns
Beliefs
Values
Norms
Social Practices
Characteristics of Cultural Patterns
The Functions of Cultural Patterns
An Overview of Cultural Patterns
Cultural Patterns and Intercultural Competence
Summary
For Discussion
For Further Reading
5 Cultural Patterns and Communication: Taxonomies
Hall's High-and Low-Context Cultural Taxonomy
Use of Covert and Overt Messages
Importance of Ingroups and Outgroups
Orientation to Time
Hofstede's Cultural Taxonomy
Individualism versus Collectivism
Uncertainty Avoidance
Power Distance
Masculinity versus Femininity
Long-Term versus Short-Term Time Orientation
Comparing Hofs.tede's Five Dimensions
Confucian Cultural Patterns
Cultural Taxonomies and Intercultural Competence
Summary
For Discussion
For Further Reading
6 Cultural Identity, Cultural Biases, and Intercultural Contact
Cultural Identity
The Nature of Identity
The Formation of Cultural Identity
Characteristics of Cultural Identity
Cultural Biases
Social Categorizing
Ethnocentrism
Stereotyping
Prejudice
Discrimination
Racism
Intercultural Contact
Dominance and Subordination between Groups
Attitudes among Cultural Members
Outcomes of Intercultural Contact
Becoming an Interculturally Competent Communicator
Identity, Biases, Contact, and Intercultural Competence
Summary
For Discussion
For Further Reading
part three Coding Intercultural Communication
7 Verbal Intercultural Communication
The Power of Language in Intercultural Communication
Definition of Verbal Codes
The Features of Language
Rule-Systems in Verbal Codes
Interpretation and Intercultural Communication
Language, Thought, Culture, and Intercultural Communication
The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis of Linguistic Relativity
Language and Intercultural Communication
Verbal Codes and Intercultural Competence
Summary
For Discussion
For Further Reading
8 Nonverbal Intercultural Communication
Definition of Nonverbal Codes
Characteristics of Nonverbal Codes
Relationship of Nonverbal to Verbal Communication
Cultural Universals in Nonverbal Communication
Cultural Variations in Nonverbal Communication
Nonverbal Messages in Intercultural Communication
Body Movements
Space
Touch
Time
Voice
Other Nonverbal Code Systems
Synchrony of Nonverbal Communication Codes
Nonverbal Communication and Intercultural Competence
Summary
For Discussion
For Further Reading
9 The Effects of Code Usage in Intercultural Communication
Preferences in the Organization of Verbal Codes
Organizational Preferences in the Use of U.S. English
Organizational Preferences in Other Languages and Cultures
Cultural Variations in Persuasion
Persuasion in Intercultural Encounters
Cultural Differences in What Is Acceptable as Evidence
Cultural Differences in What Is Considered Reasonable
Cultural Differences in Styles of Persuasion
Cultural Variations in the Structure of Conversations
Value of Talk and Silence
Rules for Conversations
Effects of Code Usage on Intercultural Competence
Summary
For Discussion
For Further Reading
part four Communication in Intercultural Relationships
10 Intercultural Competence in Interpersonal Relationships
Cultural Variations in Interpersonal Relationships
Types of Interpersonal Relationships
Dimensions of Interpersonal Relationships
Dynamics of Interpersonal Relationships
The Maintenance of Face in Interpersonal Relationships
Types of Face Needs
Facework and Interpersonal Communication
Facework and Intercultural Communication
Improving Intercultural Relationships
Learning about People from Other Cultures
Sharing Oneself with People from Other Cultures
Handling Differences in Intercultural Relationships
Interpersonal Relationships and Intercultural Competence
Summary
For Discussion
For Further Reading
11 Episodes, Contexts, and Intercultural Interactions
Social Episodes in Intercultural Relationships
The Nature of Social Episodes
Components of Social Episodes
Contexts for Intercultural Communication
The Health Care Context
The Educational Context
The Business Context
Episodes, Contexts, and Intercultural Competence
Summary
For Discussion
For Further Reading
12 The Potential for Intercultural Competence
The Ethics of Intercultural Competence
When in Rome...
Are Cultural Values Relative or Universal?
Do the Ends Justify the Means?
Ethics--Your Choices
The Perils and Prospects for Intercultural Competence
Impact of National and International Events on Intercultural Communication
Forces That Pull Us Together and Apart
Summary
Concluding Remarks
For Discussion
For Further Reading
Resources
Intercultural Films
Online Resources
Notes
Photo Credits
Text Credits
Author Index
Subject Index
Preface