本书通过介绍跨文化交际的相关概念、交流形式、文化现象，以及在交际中遇到的种种文化障碍与文化冲突，阐释解决在跨文化交际中因文化差异而产生的种种问题的基本知识与技能，帮助英语学习者认识语言、文化与交际三者之间的关系，了解跨文化交际在现实生活中的各种表现形式，掌握如何避免由于不同文化差异而产生的交流误解，以及如何有效地进行跨文化交际。本书旨在增强英语学习者的跨文化交际意识，综合提高跨文化交际能力。另外，通过与不同文化进行比较，讨论有关文化适应与相容的问题，进一步提高英语学习者对本土文化以及他国文化的了解与认识。
本书面对的主要读者为高校英语专业本科生、非英语专业本科生，以及程度相当的其他英语学习者。

Chapter One Culture and Cultural Values
1.1 Understanding Culture
1.2 Understanding Value Types and Cultural Values
1.3 Culture Shock
Exercises
Chapter Two Communication and Intercultural Communication
2.1 Understanding Communication
2.2 Relationship between Culture and Communication
2.3 Understanding Intercultural Communication
2.4 Potential Problems in Intercultural Communication
2.5 Improving Intercultural Communication Competence (ICC)
2.6 Case Discussion
2.7 Further Reading
Exercises
Chapter Three Daily Verbal Intercultural Communication
3.1 Lead-in Cases
3.2 Hospitality
3.3 Modesty
3.4 Greeting
3.5 Concern
3.6 Money
3.7 Compliments
3.8 Gratitude and Apology
3.9 "No Politeness"
3.10 Courtesy of Visiting and Parting
3.11 Case Discussion
Exercises
Chapter Four Non-Verbal Intercultural Communication
4.1 Lead-in Discussion on Gestures
4.2 Understanding Non-Verbal Communication
4.3 Body Language
4.4 Paralanguage
4.5 Time Language
4.6 Space Language
Exercises
Chapter Five Interpersonal Relationships
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Understanding Cross-Gender Communication
5.3 Family Relationship
5.4 Friendship
5.5 Friend Responsibilities, Friend Expectations and Friend Obligations
5.6 Group Discussion
5.7 Further Reading
5.8 Individualism & Collectivism
Exercises
Chapter Six Name and Ways of Addressing
6.1 Cultural Differences in Naming
6.2 Pronunciation of Common English Names
6.3 Orders of Names in English and Chinese
6.4 Cultural Differences in Addressing
6.5 Kinship
6.6 Case Discussion
6.7 Further Reading
Exercises
Chapter Seven Cultural Connotations of Language in Intercultural Communication
7.1 Lead-in Cases
7.2 Understanding Cultural-Loaded Words
7.3 Colors
7.4 Proverbs
7.5 Numbers
7.6 Taboos
Exercises
Keys to Exercises
Bibliography