| Acknowledgements | 第1-4页 |
| Abstract | 第4-5页 |
| 内容摘要 | 第5-8页 |
| Chapter One Introduction | 第8-11页 |
| ·Research objective | 第8-9页 |
| ·Significance of the research | 第9-10页 |
| ·Methodology | 第10页 |
| ·General organization | 第10-11页 |
| Chapter Two Literature Review | 第11-23页 |
| ·A brief survey on humor | 第11-18页 |
| ·Definitions of humor | 第11-14页 |
| ·Classifications of humor | 第14-15页 |
| ·Characteristics of humor | 第15-16页 |
| ·Related studies on humor | 第16-18页 |
| ·Cross-cultural communication perspective | 第18-23页 |
| ·Defining culture and its diversity | 第18-20页 |
| ·Clarifying cross-cultural communication and intercultural communicati | 第20-21页 |
| ·Understanding humor from the view of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs .. | 第21-23页 |
| Chapter Three “People Are Alike, and People Are Different” | 第23-36页 |
| ·Similarities | 第23-31页 |
| ·Functions of humor | 第23-27页 |
| ·Techniques in humor | 第27-31页 |
| ·Differences | 第31-36页 |
| ·Different preference for the topics of humor | 第31-33页 |
| ·Different preference for the joking objects | 第33-34页 |
| ·Different preference for the expressing forms of humor | 第34-36页 |
| Chapter Four Causes Rooted in Different Cultures | 第36-48页 |
| ·Different cultural backgrounds | 第36-40页 |
| ·Different cultural values | 第40-43页 |
| ·Different thinking patterns | 第43-45页 |
| ·Different interpersonal relationships | 第45-48页 |
| Chapter Five How to Bridge the Gap | 第48-54页 |
| ·Understanding differences between Chinese and Western cultures | 第48-49页 |
| ·Overcoming ethnocentrism | 第49-51页 |
| ·Improving empathy | 第51-52页 |
| ·Considering the context of situation | 第52-54页 |
| Chapter Six Conclusion | 第54-58页 |
| ·Major conclusions | 第54-56页 |
| ·Implication | 第56页 |
| ·Limitations and suggestions for further studies | 第56-58页 |
| Bibliography | 第58-60页 |
