| Acknowledgements | 第1-4页 |
| Abstract | 第4-7页 |
| 中文摘要 | 第7-13页 |
| Chapter One Introduction | 第13-18页 |
| ·General description of the study | 第13-14页 |
| ·Significance of the Study | 第14-16页 |
| ·Overall Structure of the Thesis | 第16-18页 |
| Chapter Two Literature Review | 第18-40页 |
| ·Definition of Key Terms | 第18-23页 |
| ·Self-denigration as a Sub-maxim of Politeness | 第18-20页 |
| ·Self-denigration as a Strategy of Politeness | 第20-22页 |
| ·Definitions of Cross-cultural Miscommunication | 第22-23页 |
| ·Theoretical Framework—Politeness Theory | 第23-33页 |
| ·Leech’s Politeness Principle | 第24-26页 |
| ·Brown & Levinson’s Framework | 第26-32页 |
| ·Criticism of Universality of Face | 第29-32页 |
| ·Gu’s Politeness Principle | 第32-33页 |
| ·Review of Previous Studies of Self-denigration | 第33-40页 |
| ·Previous Cross-cultural Studies | 第33-35页 |
| ·Previous Studies in Chinese Culture | 第35-40页 |
| Chapter Three Methodology | 第40-47页 |
| ·Research Questions | 第40页 |
| ·Research Designs | 第40-47页 |
| ·Quantitative Design | 第40-44页 |
| ·Subjects | 第41-42页 |
| ·Instrument | 第42-43页 |
| ·Data collection and data analysis | 第43-44页 |
| ·Qualitative Design | 第44-47页 |
| ·Subjects | 第44-45页 |
| ·Instrument | 第45页 |
| ·Data Collection and Analysis | 第45-47页 |
| Chapter Four Results and Discussion | 第47-66页 |
| ·Results and Discussion about the Quantitative Study | 第47-58页 |
| ·Frequency of the Use of the Self-denigration Strategy | 第47-50页 |
| ·Use of the Self-denigration Strategy Based on Interlocutors’Social Status.. | 第50-54页 |
| ·Summary | 第54-58页 |
| ·Similarities and Differences in the Use of the Self-denigration Strategy | 第54-56页 |
| ·Leech’s Politeness Principle as Observed in Chinese Culture | 第56-57页 |
| ·B&L’s Politeness Model as Observed in Chinese Culture | 第57-58页 |
| ·Results and Discussion about the Qualitative Design | 第58-66页 |
| ·Cultural value orientations —Individualism and Collectivism | 第59-61页 |
| ·Different Family Educations | 第61-62页 |
| ·Different Interpretations of Modesty | 第62-63页 |
| ·Cultural Globalization | 第63-66页 |
| Chapter Five Conclusion | 第66-71页 |
| ·Major Findings | 第66-68页 |
| ·Pedagogical Implications | 第68-69页 |
| ·Limitations and Suggestions | 第69-71页 |
| References | 第71-75页 |
| Appendix Ⅰ | 第75-84页 |
| Appendix Ⅱ | 第84-88页 |
