| Acknowledgements | 第1-5页 |
| Abstract (in English) | 第5-8页 |
| Abstract (in Chinese) | 第8-12页 |
| Tables and Figures | 第12-13页 |
| Chapter One Introduction | 第13-17页 |
| ·A General Introduction | 第13-15页 |
| ·Aim of the Study | 第15-16页 |
| ·Thesis Organization | 第16-17页 |
| Chapter Two Literature Review | 第17-30页 |
| ·Relevant Studies Abroad | 第17-25页 |
| ·A General Survey of Topic and Related Studies | 第17-20页 |
| ·Key Notions Related to the Topic Study | 第20-24页 |
| ·Topic vs. Focus and Clause-initial vs. Clause-final Position | 第24-25页 |
| ·Relevant Studies at Home | 第25-27页 |
| ·Evaluation: Topic and Initial NP | 第27-29页 |
| ·Summary | 第29-30页 |
| Chapter Three Clause-initial NPs as Topics | 第30-44页 |
| ·Constraints on Topic and Topic Expressions | 第30-33页 |
| ·Initial NP in Subject-predicate Structure | 第33-36页 |
| ·Initial NP in Topic-comment Distinction | 第36-39页 |
| ·Non-subject Topics | 第39-41页 |
| ·Canonical Topic Status of Initial NP | 第41-43页 |
| ·Summary | 第43-44页 |
| Chapter Four Clause-initial NPs as Non-topics | 第44-55页 |
| ·Marked and Unmarked Focus | 第44-47页 |
| ·Initial NPs as Focal Constituents | 第47-51页 |
| ·Initial NP in Sentence-focus Category | 第47-50页 |
| ·Initial NP in Argument-focus Category | 第50-51页 |
| ·Initial NP as Topic-to-be | 第51-52页 |
| ·Nonspecific NPs as Non-topics | 第52-54页 |
| ·Summary | 第54-55页 |
| Chapter Five Application: Sentence Acceptability and Referent Identification | 第55-67页 |
| ·Acceptability of Sentences with Accented Anaphoric Pronouns | 第55-58页 |
| ·Acceptability of Sentences with Initial Indefinite Subject NPs | 第58-62页 |
| ·Acceptability of Sentences with Initial Definite Subject NPs | 第62-65页 |
| ·A Cognitive Schema for Referent Identification | 第65-66页 |
| ·Summary | 第66-67页 |
| Chapter Six Conclusion | 第67-69页 |
| Bibliography | 第69-72页 |
| Publications | 第72页 |
