| Acknowledgements | 第4-5页 |
| Abstract (English Version) | 第5页 |
| Abstract (Chinese Version) | 第7-12页 |
| Chapter One: A Historical Survey of Humor | 第12-21页 |
| 1.1 Definitions of Humor | 第12-14页 |
| 1.2 Survey of Related Studies on Humor on the China Journal Net CN | 第14-17页 |
| 1.2.1 Theoretical Linguistic Study of Verbal Humor | 第14-15页 |
| 1.2.2 Rhetorical Study of Humor Production | 第15-16页 |
| 1.2.3 Applicative Researches on the Types of Humorous Language | 第16-17页 |
| 1.3 Literature Survey of Humor Research | 第17-20页 |
| 1.4 A Brief Summary of the Related Studies | 第20-21页 |
| Chapter Two: Theories of Pragmatics Related to Humor | 第21-46页 |
| 2.1 Speech Act Theory | 第21-25页 |
| 2.1.1 A Review of Speech Act Theory of Humor | 第21-24页 |
| 2.1.2 Sample Analyses of Humor Within Speech Acts | 第24-25页 |
| 2.2 Cooperative Principle | 第25-36页 |
| 2.2.1 A Review of Cooperative Principle | 第25-28页 |
| 2.2.2 CP Theory of Humor | 第28-30页 |
| 2.2.3 Sample Analyses of Humor by Violating CP Maxims | 第30-36页 |
| 2.2.3.1 Violating Maxims of Quantity Leading to Humor | 第31-33页 |
| 2.2.3.2 Violating Maxims of Quality Leading to Humor | 第33-34页 |
| 2.2.3.3 Violating Maxim of Relevance Leading to Humor | 第34-35页 |
| 2.2.3.4 Violating Maxims of Manner Leading to Humor | 第35-36页 |
| 2.3 Relevance Theory | 第36-41页 |
| 2.3.1 A Review of Relevance Theory (RT) | 第36-38页 |
| 2.3.2 Sample Analyses of Humor with Reference to Relevance Theory | 第38-41页 |
| 2.4 Politeness Principle | 第41-44页 |
| 2.4.1 A Review of Politeness Principle | 第41-43页 |
| 2.4.2 Sample Analyses of Humor Using Politeness Principle | 第43-44页 |
| 2.5 Summary | 第44-46页 |
| Chapter Three: Research Methodology and Data Collection | 第46-56页 |
| 3.1 Theoretical Consideration of Methodology for Study | 第46-47页 |
| 3.2 Research Goals | 第47-48页 |
| 3.3 Data Collection | 第48-54页 |
| 3.3.1 Subjects | 第48-49页 |
| 3.3.2 Designing of Questionnaires | 第49-53页 |
| 3.3.3 Collection of Questionnaires | 第53-54页 |
| 3.4 Variability Consideration of Data Analyses | 第54-55页 |
| 3.4.1 Individual Variability | 第54页 |
| 3.4.2 Social Variability | 第54-55页 |
| 3.4.3 Cultural Variability | 第55页 |
| 3.5 Summary | 第55-56页 |
| Chapter Four: Positive Analysis on Data and Pragmatic Approach to the Understanding of Verbal Humor | 第56-76页 |
| 4.1 Individual Variability and the Understanding of Verbal Humor | 第58-63页 |
| 4.1.1 Age Factor and the Understanding of Verbal Humor | 第58-61页 |
| 4.1.1.1 Age Factor | 第58-59页 |
| 4.1.1.2 Pragmatic Analysis of Reasons for the Effect of Age on the Understanding of Humorous Language | 第59-61页 |
| 4.1.2 Gender Factor and the Understanding of Verbal Humor | 第61-63页 |
| 4.1.2.1 Gender Factor | 第61-62页 |
| 4.1.2.2 Pragmatic Analysis of Reasons for the Effect of Gender on the Understanding of Humorous Language | 第62-63页 |
| 4.2 Social Variability and the Understanding of Verbal Humor | 第63-68页 |
| 4.2.1 Education Background and the Understanding of Verbal Humor | 第63-66页 |
| 4.2.1.1 Education Background | 第63-64页 |
| 4.2.1.2 Pragmatic Analysis of Reasons for the Effect of Education Background on the Understanding of Verbal Humor | 第64-66页 |
| 4.2.2 Occupation Background and the Understanding of Verbal Humor | 第66-68页 |
| 4.2.2.1 Occupation Background | 第66-67页 |
| 4.2.2.2 Pragmatic Analysis of Reasons for the Effect of Occupation Background on the Understanding of Verbal Humor | 第67-68页 |
| 4.3 Cultural Variability and the Understanding of Verbal Humor | 第68-75页 |
| 4.3.1 Cultural Background and Humor | 第68-69页 |
| 4.3.2 Culture and Positive Analysis on Data Collected from Questionnaires | 第69-71页 |
| 4.3.3 Pragmatic Analysis of Reasons for the Effect of Cultural Background on the Understanding of Verbal Humor | 第71-72页 |
| 4.3.4 Macro-pragmatic Interpretation of Humor and Culture | 第72-75页 |
| 4.4 Summary | 第75-76页 |
| Chapter Five: Conclusion | 第76-78页 |
| Bibliography | 第78-83页 |
| 攻读硕士学位期间发表的论文清单(汪文珍) | 第83页 |
