| 摘要 | 第1-6页 |
| Abstract | 第6-10页 |
| Chapter 1 Introduction | 第10-14页 |
| ·The Rationale of the Present Research | 第10-11页 |
| ·The Objectives of the Present Research | 第11-12页 |
| ·The Layout of the Thesis | 第12-14页 |
| Chapter 2 Identification of Understatements and Literature Review | 第14-27页 |
| ·The Definition of Understatement | 第14页 |
| ·Ways of Formation of Understatement | 第14-21页 |
| ·Lexical Formation of Understatement | 第15-17页 |
| ·Grammatical Formation of Understatement | 第17-19页 |
| ·Rhetorical Formation of Understatement | 第19-20页 |
| ·Understatement Formed by Context | 第20-21页 |
| ·Literature Review | 第21-26页 |
| ·Semantic Study on Understatement | 第21-22页 |
| ·Psychological Study on Understatement | 第22页 |
| ·Pragmatic Studies on Understatement | 第22-25页 |
| ·Rhetorical Studies on Understatement | 第25-26页 |
| ·Summary | 第26-27页 |
| Chapter 3 Theoretical Framework----Adaptation Theory | 第27-43页 |
| ·Choice—Making | 第27-29页 |
| ·Understatement as a Result of Choice-Making | 第29-31页 |
| ·Three Properties of Language | 第31-33页 |
| ·Understatement as a Result of Negotiation and Adaptation | 第33-36页 |
| ·Negotiability of Understatement | 第33-34页 |
| ·Understatement as Realization of Adaptation | 第34-36页 |
| ·Four Angles of Investigation | 第36-41页 |
| ·Contextual Correlates of Adaptability | 第37-38页 |
| ·Structural Objects of Adaptability | 第38-39页 |
| ·Dynamics of Adaptability. | 第39页 |
| ·Salience of the Adaptation Process | 第39-41页 |
| ·Adaptation Theory for the Present Study | 第41-43页 |
| Chapter 4 Understatement as the Realization of Adaptation | 第43-59页 |
| ·Contextual Correlates of Adaptability | 第43-45页 |
| ·Understatement and the Communicative Context | 第45-57页 |
| ·Understatement as Adaptation to the Mental World | 第45-49页 |
| ·Understatement as a Means of Adaptation to the Social World | 第49-54页 |
| ·Understatement and the Utterer and Interpreter’s Physical World | 第54-57页 |
| ·Summary | 第57-59页 |
| Chapter 5 Pragmatic Effects of Understatement | 第59-65页 |
| ·Minimizing the Face-threatening Effects | 第59-60页 |
| ·Masking Negative Information | 第60-62页 |
| ·Maintaining a Harmonious Relationships | 第62-63页 |
| ·Highlighting Information | 第63-64页 |
| ·Summary | 第64-65页 |
| Chapter 6 Conclusion | 第65-69页 |
| ·Major Findings | 第65-66页 |
| ·Implications of the Research | 第66页 |
| ·Limitations | 第66-67页 |
| ·Suggestions for Future Study | 第67-69页 |
| Bibliography | 第69-73页 |
| Acknowledgements | 第73-74页 |
| 攻读硕士期间发表论文情况 | 第74页 |
