| ABSTRACT | 第3页 |
| 摘要 | 第4-5页 |
| ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS | 第5-8页 |
| CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION | 第8-11页 |
| 1.1 Background of the study | 第8-9页 |
| 1.2 Purpose and research questions of the study | 第9-10页 |
| 1.3 Structure of the thesis | 第10-11页 |
| CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW | 第11-28页 |
| 2.1 Definitions and classifications of modality | 第11-16页 |
| 2.2 Previous studies on modality from synchronic perspective | 第16-23页 |
| 2.2.1 Synchronic studies on modality from syntax | 第16-17页 |
| 2.2.2 Synchronic studies on modality from semantics | 第17-18页 |
| 2.2.3 Synchronic studies on modality from cognitive linguistics | 第18-19页 |
| 2.2.4 Synchronic studies on Chinese modal verb “neng” at home | 第19-21页 |
| 2.2.5 Synchronic studies on comparison analysis of English “can” andChinese “neng” | 第21-23页 |
| 2.3 Previous studies on modality from diachronic perspective | 第23-26页 |
| 2.4 Limitations of previous studies and originality of the present study | 第26-28页 |
| CHAPTER THREE THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK AND RESEARCH METHODOLOGY | 第28-35页 |
| 3.1 Semantic map | 第28-32页 |
| 3.1.1 Semantic map and its advantages | 第28-30页 |
| 3.1.2 Semantic map of modality | 第30-32页 |
| 3.2 Data collection and research methodology | 第32-35页 |
| 3.2.1 Data collection | 第32-33页 |
| 3.2.2 Research methodology | 第33-35页 |
| CHAPTER FOUR A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE SEMANTIC MAPS OF ENGLISHMODAL VERB “CAN” AND CHINESE MODAL VERB “NENG” | 第35-66页 |
| 4.1 A diachronic analysis of English modal verb “can” | 第35-49页 |
| 4.1.1 Semantic Changes of English modal verb “can” in Old and MiddleEnglish | 第36-43页 |
| 4.1.2 Semantic Changes of English modal verb “can” in Modern English | 第43-47页 |
| 4.1.3 Semantic map of English modal verb “can” | 第47-49页 |
| 4.2 A diachronic analysis of Chinese modal verb “neng” | 第49-60页 |
| 4.2.1 Semantic Changes of Chinese modal verb “neng” in Old and MiddleChinese | 第50-55页 |
| 4.2.2 Semantic Changes of Chinese modal verb “neng” in Modern Chinese | 第55-57页 |
| 4.2.3 Semantic map of Chinese modal verb “neng” | 第57-60页 |
| 4.3 The commonalities of English modal verb“can” and Chinese modal verb“neng” | 第60-66页 |
| 4.3.1 The common semantic development paths | 第60-61页 |
| 4.3.2 The common motivations of the similar evolutionary path | 第61-63页 |
| 4.3.3 The mechanism behind the similar evolutionary path | 第63-66页 |
| CHAPTER FIVE CONCLUSION | 第66-69页 |
| 5.1 Major findings | 第66-67页 |
| 5.2 Implications: theoretical and practical | 第67-68页 |
| 5.3 Limitations and suggestions for future research | 第68-69页 |
| REFERENCES | 第69-73页 |
