| Acknowledgements | 第1-5页 |
| Abstract (English Version) | 第5-8页 |
| Abstract (Chinese Version) | 第8-10页 |
| Contents | 第10-12页 |
| List of Tables | 第12-13页 |
| Chapter One Introduction | 第13-17页 |
| ·Origin of the Study | 第13-14页 |
| ·Significance of the Study | 第14-15页 |
| ·Objectives of the Study | 第15页 |
| ·Methodology | 第15-16页 |
| ·Organization of the Paper | 第16-17页 |
| Chapter Two Literature Review | 第17-35页 |
| ·Speech Act Theory | 第17-23页 |
| ·Austin's Foundation of Speech Act Theory | 第17-19页 |
| ·Searle's Development of Speech Act Theory | 第19-22页 |
| ·Other Linguists' Researches | 第22-23页 |
| ·Gender Differences in Language Use | 第23-33页 |
| ·History of the Study | 第23-24页 |
| ·Theoretical Explanations for Gender Differences | 第24-26页 |
| ·Reflection of Gender Differences | 第26-33页 |
| ·Study Abroad | 第26-30页 |
| ·Study at Home | 第30-33页 |
| ·Summary | 第33-35页 |
| Chapter Three Methodology | 第35-44页 |
| ·Research Questions | 第35页 |
| ·Subjects | 第35-38页 |
| ·Choice of the Two Female Writers | 第35-37页 |
| ·Choice of the Two Novels | 第37-38页 |
| ·Data Collection | 第38-42页 |
| ·Definition of the Sentences | 第38-40页 |
| ·Classification of the Sentences | 第40-42页 |
| ·Summary | 第42-44页 |
| Chapter Four Results and Discussion | 第44-62页 |
| ·Analysis of the Language Data | 第44-54页 |
| ·Analysis of the English Language Data | 第44-50页 |
| ·Analysis of the Chinese Language Data | 第50-54页 |
| ·Check of the New Conclusions Against the Previous Ones | 第54-57页 |
| ·Check of the English Conclusions | 第54-55页 |
| ·Check of the Chinese Conclusions | 第55-56页 |
| ·Unexpected Findings | 第56-57页 |
| ·An English-Chinese Contrast of Female Language Features | 第57-60页 |
| ·Similarities | 第57-59页 |
| ·Differences | 第59-60页 |
| ·Summary | 第60-62页 |
| Chapter Five Conclusion | 第62-65页 |
| ·Major Findings of the Study | 第62-63页 |
| ·implications of the Study | 第63-64页 |
| ·Limitations of the Study and Suggestions for Further Research | 第64-65页 |
| Bibliography | 第65-72页 |
| Appendices | 第72-104页 |
| Appendix A Ellen's Speeches in The Age of Innocence | 第72-86页 |
| Appendix B Manzhen's Speeches in Banshengyuan | 第86-104页 |
| List of the Published Papers of the Author | 第104页 |
