Abstract
Based on the concept of high-context and low-context cultures put forward by Edward Hall, this paper takes Chinese culture and American culture as representatives of high-context cultures and low-context cultures, aiming to analyze the differences of communication styles of these two cultures. It proclaims the probable culture conflicts that appear in the communication between these two cultures via case studies and tries to find out the reasons why these differences come into being, i.e. rhetoric styles, culture psychology, view of value, and principles of literary allusions. It is expected to provide suggestions for English learners on intercultural communication, reduce culture shock phenomenon, and promote smooth and friendly intercultural communication.
Keywords   intercultural communication   high-context cultures       low-context cultures        misunderstanding

本文以中国和美国作为高低语境文化的代表，以霍尔高低语境文化理论为基础，尝试分析高低语境文化的特征和差异形成的原因，即修辞方式及文化心理、价值观、文学文本中的跨文化交际原则。并通过三个具体案例分析两国文化之间的差异和可能出现的冲突和误解现象来对以上原因进行解释说明。以此试图给英语学习者顺利进行跨文化交流提供一些建议，减少跨文化交流中的文化休克和误解现象。
关键词  跨文化交流   高语境文化   低语境文化   误解

Ever since Hall published The Silent Language (1959) which symbolized the foundation of Intercultural Communication course, it had transformed from a topic researched by a few people to an important course opened in most American colleges, from a cold topic for a few scholars in America to a hot topic for scholars around the world. The results of intercultural communication researches have made great influence on not only affairs of foreign affairs departments and foreign trade departments, but also foreign languages teaching and translation. On the whole, the achievements in intercultural communication field are undoubtedly great and known to the public.