| Acknowledgements | 第5-6页 |
| 摘要 | 第6-7页 |
| Abstract | 第7-8页 |
| List of Abbreviations | 第11-14页 |
| Chapter One Introduction | 第14-18页 |
| 1.1 Research background | 第14-15页 |
| 1.2 Research purpose and significance | 第15-17页 |
| 1.3 Organization of the thesis | 第17-18页 |
| Chapter Two Literature Review | 第18-33页 |
| 2.1 An overview of studies on Chinese puns | 第18-25页 |
| 2.1.1 The definition and range of Chinese puns | 第18-20页 |
| 2.1.2 Features and conditions of Chinese puns | 第20-22页 |
| 2.1.3 The classification of Chinese puns | 第22-24页 |
| 2.1.4 Difference between Chinese puns and polysemy | 第24-25页 |
| 2.2 Previous studies on puns | 第25-31页 |
| 2.2.1 A rhetorical approach | 第25-26页 |
| 2.2.2 A semantic approach | 第26-29页 |
| 2.2.3 A pragmatic-cognitive approach | 第29-31页 |
| 2.3 Previous Studies on Chinese puns in News Headlines | 第31-33页 |
| Chapter Three Theoretical Frameworks for Interpreting Chinese Puns | 第33-43页 |
| 3.1 RT and its application in the process of meaning deconstruction of Chinese puns | 第33-38页 |
| 3.2 CBT and its application in the process of meaning deconstruction of Chinese puns | 第38-41页 |
| 3.3 The cognitive conditions for meaning deconstruction of Chinese puns | 第41-43页 |
| Chapter Four Empirical Research | 第43-47页 |
| 4.1 Research questions | 第43页 |
| 4.2 Research design | 第43-46页 |
| 4.2.1 Participants | 第43-44页 |
| 4.2.2 Material | 第44页 |
| 4.2.3 Method | 第44-46页 |
| 4.3 Data collection and research procedures | 第46-47页 |
| Chapter Five Data Analysis | 第47-56页 |
| 5.1 Accuracy rate of interpretation for Chinese puns | 第47-49页 |
| 5.2 Comprehension strategies for Chinese puns | 第49-52页 |
| 5.3 Four types of Chinese puns and comprehension strategies | 第52-56页 |
| Chapter Six Discussion | 第56-63页 |
| 6.1 The cognitive conditions in the real interpretative process of Chinese puns | 第56-57页 |
| 6.2 The relationship between four types of Chinese puns and the cognitive conditions | 第57-60页 |
| 6.3 The reasons for failure to the interpretation of Chinese puns | 第60-63页 |
| Chapter Seven Conclusion | 第63-67页 |
| 7.1 Major findings of the study | 第63-64页 |
| 7.2 Implications | 第64-65页 |
| 7.3 Limitations and areas for future research | 第65-67页 |
| References | 第67-73页 |
| Appendix Ⅰ | 第73-84页 |
