Understanding intercultural communication / Stella Ting-Toomey and Leeva C. Chung.

Includes bibliographical references (page 321-354) and index.

1. Why study intercultural communication? -- 2. What is intercultural communication flexibility? -- 3. What are the essential cultural value patterns? -- 4. What are the keys to understanding cultural and ethnic identities? -- 5. What is culture shock? -- 6. What is the connection between verbal communication and culture? -- 7. What are the different ways to communicate nonverbally across cultures? -- 8. What causes us to hold biases against outgroups? -- 9. How can we manage intercultural conflict flexibility? -- 10. What are the challenges in developing an intercultural-intimate relationship? -- 11. Why does global identity matter? -- 12. How can we become ethical intercultural communicators?

"Written in a conversational style, this book introduces students to the foundations of intercultural communication, a vibrant discipline within the field. Authors Stella Ting-Toomey and Leeva Chung take a multicontextual, inclusive approach that balances international and intercultural communication issues against U.S. domestic diversity issues. In addition to emphasizing a value-oriented perspective on intercultural encounters, the text contains a robust ethical chapter, complete with specific guidelines that will help students become ethical intercultural communicators. By integrating current empirical research with lively intercultural examples, the authors ask thought-provoking questions and pose ethical dilemmas for students to ponder. The text offers a sprawling treatment of such topics as ethnic and cultural identity change, culture shock and intercultural adjustment, romantic relationships and raising bicultural children, global identity challenges, and decision-making choices in intercultural ethics"-- Provided by publisher.