| Acknowledgements | 第1-7页 |
| Abstract in English | 第7-9页 |
| Abstract in Chinese | 第9-12页 |
| Chapter One INTRODUCTION | 第12-17页 |
| ·The Pervasiveness of Irony | 第12-13页 |
| ·Research Background of the Present Study | 第13-14页 |
| ·Research Goal of the Present Study | 第14页 |
| ·Research Methodology | 第14-15页 |
| ·Significance of the Research | 第15-17页 |
| Chapter Two LITERATURE REVIEW | 第17-35页 |
| ·Definitional Problem of Irony | 第18-23页 |
| ·Classification of Irony | 第23-27页 |
| ·Previous Study on Irony from the Perspective of Different Approaches | 第27-35页 |
| ·The Traditional Rhetoric and Semantic Approaches | 第27-31页 |
| ·Cognitive Approach | 第31-32页 |
| ·Pragmatic Approach | 第32-35页 |
| Chapter Three THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK OF THE PRESENT RESEARCH | 第35-41页 |
| ·Grice's Cooperative Principle | 第35-37页 |
| ·Leech's Politeness Principle | 第37-41页 |
| Chapter Four A COMPARATIVE PRAGMATIC STUDY ON VERBAL IRONY IN CHINESE PUTONGHUA AND AMERICAN ENGLISH | 第41-63页 |
| ·The Occurrence of Verbal Irony | 第42-50页 |
| ·Pragmatic Functions of Verbal Irony | 第50-57页 |
| ·Expressing the Attitude of Negation & Making Criticism | 第52-53页 |
| ·Amusing & Exhibiting Wit | 第53-54页 |
| ·Saving Face | 第54-55页 |
| ·Showing Power & Establishing Solidarity | 第55-57页 |
| ·Ways of Responding to Verbal Irony | 第57-61页 |
| ·Serious Response | 第58页 |
| ·Acceptance and Playing along | 第58-59页 |
| ·Simple Laughter | 第59-60页 |
| ·No Response | 第60-61页 |
| ·Possible Cultural Reasons for the Found Differences | 第61-63页 |
| Chapter Five CONCLUSION | 第63-67页 |
| ·Main Findings of the Present Research | 第63-64页 |
| ·Practical Implications of the Present Research | 第64-65页 |
| ·Limitations of the Present Research and Suggestions for Further Studies | 第65-67页 |
| REFERENCES | 第67-70页 |
| APPENDIX Ⅰ | 第70-81页 |
| APPENDIX Ⅱ | 第81-98页 |
