| Abstract | 第1-6页 |
| 摘要 | 第6-7页 |
| List of tables | 第7-10页 |
| Chapter 1 Introduction | 第10-13页 |
| ·Research background | 第10-11页 |
| ·Research questions | 第11页 |
| ·Organization of the thesis | 第11-13页 |
| Chapter 2 Literature Review | 第13-28页 |
| ·An overview of speech act studies | 第13-14页 |
| ·Apology Studies | 第14-22页 |
| ·Definition of Apology | 第14-16页 |
| ·Apology Strategies | 第16-22页 |
| ·Theoretical interpretations | 第22-28页 |
| ·Politeness Principle and Face View | 第22-25页 |
| ·Cross-cultural perspectives | 第25-28页 |
| Chapter 3 Research Methodology | 第28-31页 |
| ·Instrument | 第28-29页 |
| ·Data-collection | 第29-31页 |
| Chapter 4 Analysis of Apology Strategies | 第31-41页 |
| ·Apology strategies used by Chinese females | 第31-34页 |
| ·Apology strategies used by Chinese males | 第34-37页 |
| ·Apology strategies used by Japanese females | 第37-38页 |
| ·Apology strategies used by Japanese males | 第38-41页 |
| Chapter 5 Results and Discussion | 第41-51页 |
| ·Differences of apology strategies used by Japanese and Chinese | 第41-44页 |
| ·Differences of apology strategies in relation to social distance | 第41-42页 |
| ·Differences of apology strategies in relation to relative power | 第42-43页 |
| ·Differences of apology strategies in relation to severity of offence | 第43-44页 |
| ·Differences of apology strategies between males and females | 第44-49页 |
| ·Differences of apology strategies in the use of intensifiers | 第44-47页 |
| ·Differences of apology strategies in the use of direct expressions | 第47-48页 |
| ·Differences of apology strategies for showing concerns | 第48-49页 |
| ·Factors contributing to these differences | 第49-51页 |
| Chapter 6 Conclusion | 第51-54页 |
| ·Major findings | 第51-52页 |
| ·Limitations of the study | 第52-53页 |
| ·Suggestions for future studies | 第53-54页 |
| Bibliography | 第54-56页 |
| Acknowledgements | 第56-57页 |
| Appendix | 第57-60页 |
