| Acknowledgements | 第4-5页 |
| Abstract | 第5-6页 |
| 摘要 | 第7-10页 |
| Introduction | 第10-12页 |
| Chapter One Literature Review | 第12-23页 |
| 1.1 Silence | 第12-15页 |
| 1.1.1 Definition of Silence | 第12-13页 |
| 1.1.2 Motives of Silence | 第13-14页 |
| 1.1.3 Functions of Silence | 第14-15页 |
| 1.2 Previous Studies of Silence | 第15-18页 |
| 1.2.1 Pervious Studies of Silence Abroad | 第15-17页 |
| 1.2.2 Pervious Studies of Silence at Home | 第17页 |
| 1.2.3 Comments on Previous Studies of Silence | 第17-18页 |
| 1.3 Silence and Conversation | 第18-20页 |
| 1.3.1 Conversational Structure | 第18-19页 |
| 1.3.2 Relationships Between Silence and Conversation | 第19-20页 |
| 1.4 Silence and Culture | 第20-23页 |
| 1.4.1 High-context Culture and Low-context Culture | 第20页 |
| 1.4.2 Hofstede’s Theory of Culture Dimension | 第20-21页 |
| 1.4.3 Relationships Between Silence and Culture | 第21-23页 |
| Chapter Two Similarities and Differences Between Chinese Conversations and American Conversations | 第23-48页 |
| 2.1 Similarities of Silence | 第23-32页 |
| 2.1.1 Similarities in Obeying the Rules of Turn-taking | 第23-25页 |
| 2.1.2 Similarities in Obeying the Rules of Relevance Theory | 第25-27页 |
| 2.1.3 Similarities in Conveying messages | 第27-29页 |
| 2.1.4 Similarities in Functioning | 第29-32页 |
| 2.2 Differences of Attitudes Towards Silence | 第32-38页 |
| 2.2.1 Frequent Silence VS. Infrequent Silence | 第33-35页 |
| 2.2.2 Remaining Silent VS. Eliminating Silence | 第35-38页 |
| 2.3 Differences in Decoding Silence | 第38-40页 |
| 2.4 Differences of Motives of Silence | 第40-48页 |
| 2.4.1 Prosocial Silence VS. Self-centered Silence | 第40-43页 |
| 2.4.2 Defensive Silence VS. Affronted Silence | 第43-44页 |
| 2.4.3 Acquiescent Silence VS. Dissident Silence | 第44-48页 |
| Chapter Three Cause Analysis from the Perspective of Chinese and American Culture | 第48-57页 |
| 3.1 Cause Analysis from the Aspect of Mentality Culture | 第48-50页 |
| 3.1.1 Different Thinking Modes | 第48-50页 |
| 3.1.2 Different Values | 第50页 |
| 3.2 Cause Analysis from the Aspect of Institutional Culture | 第50-53页 |
| 3.2.1 Different Social Institutions | 第51-52页 |
| 3.2.2 Differences in Education | 第52-53页 |
| 3.3 Cause Analysis from the Aspect of Behavior Culture | 第53-57页 |
| 3.3.1 Different Religious Beliefs | 第54-55页 |
| 3.3.2 Different Customs and Behaviors | 第55-57页 |
| Chapter Four Strategies for Avoiding Misunderstandings of Silence in Chinese and American Conversations | 第57-65页 |
| 4.1 Combining Culture Learning and Context Inferring | 第57-59页 |
| 4.1.1 Culture Learning | 第58页 |
| 4.1.2 Context Inferring | 第58-59页 |
| 4.2 Establishing Harmonious Communication Environment | 第59-61页 |
| 4.2.1 Obeying the Principles of the PP Theory | 第59-60页 |
| 4.2.2 Obeying the Principles of the Face-keeping Theory | 第60-61页 |
| 4.3 Eliminating Negative Silence | 第61-65页 |
| 4.3.1 Filling in Silence with Paralanguage | 第61-62页 |
| 4.3.2 Changing Topics | 第62-63页 |
| 4.3.3 Combining with Other Nonverbal Signals | 第63-65页 |
| Conclusion | 第65-67页 |
| Bibliography | 第67-70页 |
| 个人简介 | 第70-71页 |
| 附录 | 第71-72页 |
