本書在綜合了社會認同理論、符號互動論以及傳播學理論的基礎上，發展出了跨文化認同協商理論。作者指出，有效的交際要求我們必須調整行為規範的指導原則(參照繫)，嘗試使用新的分類方法來了解不同的文化視角，實驗多樣化的決策方略和問題解決方式。
對於語言功能的探討是本書的亮點。它不僅提供了大量典型的跨文化交際實例，還給出了很多關於如何提高交際質量的建議。

Leo Thayer(1979)曾說過：“我們今天所面臨的(人類溝通問題)與兩個 世紀前孔子所思考的問題沒有本質上的不同”；隻有“完全徹底了解溝通現 像”之後纔能找到解決衝突的方法。為此，跨文化交際學學者和研究者們一 直在不懈努力，期望能更充分地解析交際的復雜過程。本書作者Stella Tin9—Toomey就是涉足此領域較早的學者之一，她長期不懈的努力使人們對 多個跨文化交際問題的了解更加全面深入，特別是在研究種族／民族認同、 跨文化衝突管理、文化認同和跨文化“面子觀”等方面，她發展的理論獲得 了廣泛贊譽。 《文化間的交流))正是融合了Tin9—Toomey多年的教學研究成果和實地 調查經驗的一本基礎讀物。作者在前言中指出本書有五大特點：1、全書由 統一主題——“留心(Mindfulness)”概念貫穿；2、介紹了一個涵蓋知識、 動機和技巧等多方面內容的理論詮釋模型；3、從第三章到第十章，每章結 尾處都提供了簡單可行的建議，指導讀者如何將所學知識和技巧應用在實際 的跨文化交際中；4、本書多個章節采用圖示或表格處理關鍵概念和理論， 易於讀者理解概念間的相互關繫，形成視覺記憶；5、本書采用的是跨學科 的視角。在林林總總的跨文化入門著作中，本書圍繞一個核心概念、兩條理 論主線組織信息的方式，以及注重理論聯繫實際的寫作指導思想，可謂獨具 特色。

I. CONCEPTUAL FOUNDATIONS
1. Intercultural Communication: An Introduction
Why Study Intercultural Communication?
　Global Diversity Trends
　Domestic Diversity Trends
　Interpersonal Learning Opportunities
　　What Is Intercultural Communication?
Conceptualization of Culture
Conceptualization of Intercultural Communication
　Intercultural Communication: Five Core Assumptions
2.Mindful Intercultural Communication:
　An Identity Negotiation Perspective
　The Identity Negotiation Perspective
The Theoretical Background
Primary Identity Domains
Situational Identities
Summary
　The Identity Negotiation Theory
Core Theoretical Assumptions
Assumptions 1-4
Assumptions 5 and 6
Assumption 7
Assumption 8
　Mindful Intercultural Communication
Threefold Outcomes of Mindful
Intercultural Communication
Mindful Intercultural Communication:
Criteria and Components
II. THE INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION PROCESS:
DISSIMILAR ASSUMPTIONS
　3. Value Orientations and Intercultural Encounters
　　Classical Value Orientations
　 Basic Assumptions
　 People-Nature Value Orientation
　 Temporal Orientation
　 Human Nature Orientation
　 Activity Orientation
　 Relational Orientation
　　Cross-Cultural Organizational Value Dimensions
　 Individualism-Collectivism: The Core Dimension
　 The Power Distance Dimension
　 The Uncertainty Avoidance Dimension
　 The Masculinity and Femininity Dimension
　 The Confucian Dynamism Dimension
　 Loose and Tight Social Structures
　　Values, Self-Conception Consequences, and Interaction
　 Independent and Interdependent Self-Construal
　 Personal and Collective Self-Esteem
　 Universalistic-Based versus　Particularistic-Based Interaction
　 Summary
　　 Recommendations
　 4. Mindful Intercultural Verbal Communication
　　　Human Language: A Coherent System
　 Arbitrariness
　 Multilayered Rules
　 Speech Community
　　Languages across Cultures: Diverse Functions
　 The Group Identity Function
　 The Perceptual Filtering Function
　 The Cognitive Reasoning Function
　 The Status and Intimacy Function
　 The Creativity Function
　　Cross-Cultural Verbal Communication Styles
　 Low-Context and High-Context Communication
　 Direct and Indirect Verbal Interaction Styles
　 Person-Oriented and Status-Oriented Verbal Styles
　 Self-Enhancement and Self-Effacement Verbal Styles
　 Beliefs Expressed in Talk and Silence
　　Recommendations
5. Mindful Intercultural Nonverbal Communication
Nonverbal Communication:
Specific Functions and Patterns
Reflecting and Managing Identities
Expressing Emotions and Attitudes
Conversational Management
Impression Formation and Attraction
Space and Time across Cultures
Interpersonal Spatial Boundary Regulation
Environmental Boundary Regulation
Temporal Regulation
Interpersonal Synchrony and Nonverbal Cautions
Interpersonal Interactive Synchrony
Nonverbal Cautions
Recommendations
III. BOUNDARY REGULATION AND INTERGROUP-
INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPMENTS
6. Identity Contact and Intergroup Encounters
Social Identity Theory and Its Associated Constructs:
A Boundary-Regulation Approach
Social Identity Theory
Social Categorization
Social Comparison
Intergroup Attribution: A Sense-Making Process
Attribution Theory
Intergroup Attribution Theory
Mindsets: Affective and Cognitive Filters
Intergroup Perception
Ethnocentrism and Communication
Stereotypes and Communication
Prejudice and Communication
Reduction of Prejudice and Discrimination
Recommendations
7. Intercultural Personal Relationship Development:
Identity- and Relational-Based Themes
Personal Relationship Developments:
Membership and Contextual Conditions
Cultural and Ethnic Membership Values
Gender Expectations and Norms
Individual Personality Attributes
Situational Contact Conditions
Four Identity- and Relational-Based Themes
The Identity Vulnerability and Security Theme
The Identity Autonomy and Connection Theme
The Relational Dissimilarity and Similarity Theme
The Relational Openness and Closedness Theme
Summary
Recommendations
8. Constructive Intercultural Conflict Management
Intercultural Conflict: Definitional Characteristics
Conflict Goal Issues
Conflict-Related Characteristics
Contributing Factors Affecting Intercultural Conflict
A Cultural Variability Perspective
Cultural-Based Conflict: Different Lenses
Intercultural Conflict Management Skills
Operational Skills Needed for Constructive Conflict Management
Collaborative Dialogue and Communication Adaptability
Recommendations 227
IV. IDENTITY TRANSFORMATION AND
TRANSCULTURAL COMPETENCIES
9. Identity Change and Intercultural Adaptation
Intercultural Adaptation: Antecedent Factors
Systems-Level Factors
Individual-Level Factors
Interpersonal-Level Factors
Intercultural Adaptation: The Identity Change Process
Managing the Culture Shock Process
Sojourners' Adjustment Models
Minority and Immigrants' Identity Change Models
Intercultural Adaptation: Effective Outcomes
Systems-Level and Interpersonal-Level Outcomes
Personal Identity Change Outcomes
Recommendations
10. Transcultural Communication Competence
Criteria of Transcultural Communication Competence
The Appropriateness Criterion
The Effectiveness Criterion
The Satisfaction Criterion
Components of Transcultural Communication Competence
The Knowledge Blocks Component
The Mindfulness Component
The Communication Skills Component
From Intercultural to Transcultural Ethics
Ethical Absolutism versus Ethical Relativism
Moral Exclusion versus Moral Inclusion
Final Recommendations
References
Index