| Abstract | 第1-10页 |
| 中文摘要 | 第10-13页 |
| Introduction | 第13-16页 |
| Chapter One Literature Review | 第16-32页 |
| ·Development of the Concept of Humor | 第16-17页 |
| ·Theories of Humor | 第17-25页 |
| ·The Superiority Theory | 第18-19页 |
| ·The Relief Theory | 第19-20页 |
| ·The Incongruity Theory and the Incongruity-Resolution Theory | 第20-25页 |
| ·The Incongruity Theory | 第20-23页 |
| ·The Incongruity-Resolution Theory | 第23-25页 |
| ·Researches on Humor from the Sociological and Linguistic Perspectives | 第25-31页 |
| ·Sociological Researches on Humor | 第25-26页 |
| ·Linguistic Researches on Humor Both at Home and Abroad | 第26-31页 |
| ·Linguistic Researches on Humor Abroad | 第26-29页 |
| ·Linguistic Researches on Humor at Home | 第29-31页 |
| ·Summary | 第31-32页 |
| Chapter Two Framework of Relevance Theory | 第32-42页 |
| ·Ostensive-Inferential Communication | 第32-34页 |
| ·A Notion—Relevance | 第34-35页 |
| ·Two Principles of Relevance | 第35-37页 |
| ·The Dynamic Context | 第37-38页 |
| ·Cognitive Environments and Mutual Manifestness | 第38-39页 |
| ·The Criterion of Consistency with the Principle of Relevance | 第39-40页 |
| ·Studies of Relevance Theory at Home | 第40-41页 |
| ·Summary | 第41-42页 |
| Chapter Three Relevance-Theoretic Analysis of the Success of English Verbal Humor | 第42-60页 |
| ·The Role of the Humorist in Successful Humor Communication | 第43-49页 |
| ·The Explanation of Incongruity in Terms of Relevance Theory | 第49-51页 |
| ·The Description of the Comprehension Procedure Involved in Understandi English Verbal Humor in Terms of Relevance Theory | 第51-54页 |
| ·The Analysis of the Sample of English Verbal Humor in Terms of Theory | 第54-59页 |
| ·Summary | 第59-60页 |
| Chapter Four Relevance-Theoretic Analysis of the Failure of English Verbal Humor | 第60-83页 |
| ·Why We Explore the Failure of Verbal Humor | 第60-61页 |
| ·General Introduction to Factors Causing the Failure of Verbal Humor | 第61-63页 |
| ·Relevance-Theoretic Analysis of the Failure of English Verbal Humor | 第63-81页 |
| ·Degrees of Incongruity and Humorous Effects | 第64-73页 |
| ·No Incongruity, No Humorous Effects Produced | 第64-65页 |
| ·Small or Big Incongruity Leads to Verbal Humor Failure | 第65-73页 |
| ·Factors Influencing the Resolution of Incongruity | 第73-79页 |
| ·Incorrect Context Selection Can Decrease Humorous Effects | 第79-81页 |
| ·Different Individuals, Different Humorous Effects | 第81页 |
| ·Summary | 第81-83页 |
| Conclusion | 第83-86页 |
| Notes | 第86-87页 |
| Bibliography | 第87-91页 |
| Appendix Ⅰ | 第91-97页 |
| Appendix Ⅱ | 第97-102页 |
| Acknowledgements | 第102-103页 |
| 攻读硕士学位期间发表的论文 | 第103页 |
