本书由世界图书出版公司出版，是国内迄今为止最庞大最系统的美国口语Corpus(语集)。它并非简单的几千个英语句子，而是分列了总共760个话题，每个话题又分为非正式表达和正式表达基本句型十句左右，若干个相关话题之后又有总结性的实用对白数则，复杂表达十余句，另附关键性的词汇和短语列表。这样的编排体现了美籍作者的良苦用心，大大方便了读者的学习和查找。本句典涵盖面极广，几乎涉及了美国日常生活中方方面面的话题，也就是说，它收录的不仅仅是简单的生存英语口语(Survival Oral English)，它的内容足以构成整个丰富多彩的人生：从衣食住行到工作娱乐以至恋爱家庭，处处透着浓厚的美国生活气息和情趣。从书中随处可见当代美国口语发展的最新趋向。

本书由从事TESOL教学系统的美籍华人Sue Lueng提供全力写作协助，华南师范大学博士谭伟民先生配合译审，尽可能做到了语言的完整与地道，特别适合需要学习美国口语的初级、中级读者使用。

BASIC SOCIAL ENCOUNTERS

Greetings

Small Talk

Introductions

Ending a Conversation

Good-byes

Agreeing

Disagreeing

CONVERSATLONAL ENCOUNTERS

Focusing attention

Launching the conversation

Making friends

Complex matters

Disputes

Discussion and resolution

POLITE ENCOUNTERS

Prefaces

Communication

Telling time

General pleasantries

Business pleasantries

Apologizing and taking responsibility

Forgiving

Showing gratitude

Returning thanks

Special occasions

IMPOLITE ENCOUNTERS

Dealing with unpleasantness

VISITS

Guests and hosts

MISCELLANEOUS EXPRESSIONS

Comments and phrases

PERSONAL MATTERS

Feelings

Anxiety

The senses

Love and sex

FAMILY MATTERS

Home life

Education

Children

MONEY MATTERS

Banking

Personal finances

FOOD AND DRINK

Supermarkets

Fast food

Cafes and sandwich shops

Pizza

Restaurants

Bar

Bakery

Home Cooking

HEALTH

Health and Appearance

Sickness

Doctors

Medicine

EMPLOYMENT

Getting a job

Holding a job

Business Meetings

Projects

SHOPPING

Stores and Shops

Shoe Repair Shops

Drugstores

The Post Office

The Tailor

Tickets

Florists

Newspapera and Magazines

Automobiles

SERVICE ENCOUNTERS

Baby Sitters

Computer Repair

Clothes Cleaning

Public Libraries

The Lifeguard

Plumbing Problems

Utility Service

Domestic help

Answering the telephone

Making telephone calls

Shopping on the telephone

TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION

LODGING

EMERGENCIES

RELATIONSHIPS