| Acknowledgements | 第1-5页 |
| Abstract in English | 第5-7页 |
| Abstract in Chinese | 第7-13页 |
| Chapter One Introduction | 第13-17页 |
| ·Introduction | 第13页 |
| ·Rationale of the present study | 第13-14页 |
| ·Problems with the existing studies | 第14-15页 |
| ·Objectives of the present study | 第15页 |
| ·Methodology and data collection | 第15-16页 |
| ·Outline of the thesis | 第16-17页 |
| Chapter Two Literature Review | 第17-30页 |
| ·Introduction | 第17页 |
| ·Studies on he shen | 第17-18页 |
| ·Approaches to the study of flattery | 第18-28页 |
| ·Definition of flattery and the distinctions between flattery and compliment | 第18-22页 |
| ·Rhetoric approach | 第22-24页 |
| ·Sociolinguistic approach | 第24-25页 |
| ·Psychological approach | 第25-28页 |
| ·Pragmatic approach | 第28页 |
| ·Limitations of the past researches and perspectives of the present study | 第28-29页 |
| ·Summary | 第29-30页 |
| Chapter Three Description of the Conceptual Framework | 第30-36页 |
| ·Introduction | 第30页 |
| ·Brown and LAevinson's face theory | 第30-33页 |
| ·Connotations of "Face" | 第30-31页 |
| ·Face-threatening acts | 第31-32页 |
| ·Politeness strategy | 第32-33页 |
| ·Positive politeness strategy | 第33-35页 |
| ·Summary | 第35-36页 |
| Chapter Four Linguistic Devices and Pragmatic Strategies of Chinese Flattery | 第36-49页 |
| ·Introduction | 第36页 |
| ·Linguistic devices of flattery as a speech act | 第36-41页 |
| ·Lexical devices | 第36-38页 |
| ·Syntactical devices | 第38-41页 |
| ·Positive politeness strategies applied to flattery as a speech act | 第41-46页 |
| ·Expressing notice, attention to the addressee | 第42-43页 |
| ·Exaggerating the speaker's interest in and approval of the addressee | 第43页 |
| ·Expressing agreement | 第43-44页 |
| ·Presupposing the speaker's knowledge of and concern for the addresee's wants | 第44-45页 |
| ·Offering excuses or reasons, consoling the addressee | 第45页 |
| ·Giving verbal gifts to the addressee | 第45-46页 |
| ·Summary | 第46-49页 |
| Chapter Five Conclusion | 第49-53页 |
| ·Introduction | 第49页 |
| ·Major findings of the thesis | 第49-51页 |
| ·Limitations | 第51页 |
| ·Suggestions for further research | 第51-53页 |
| Bibliography | 第53-56页 |
| Publication | 第56-57页 |
| 个人简况及联系方式 | 第57-59页 |
