| 摘要 | 第4-5页 |
| Abstract | 第5-6页 |
| Acknowledgements | 第7-11页 |
| Chapter 1 Introduction | 第11-17页 |
| 1.1 Research Background | 第11-12页 |
| 1.2 Research Objective | 第12-13页 |
| 1.3 Significance of the Study | 第13-14页 |
| 1.4 Research Questions | 第14页 |
| 1.5 Terminology | 第14-15页 |
| 1.6 Layout of the Thesis | 第15-17页 |
| Chapter 2 Literature Review | 第17-35页 |
| 2.1 Studies on Time Expressions | 第17-25页 |
| 2.1.1. Studies on Tense and Aspect | 第17-22页 |
| 2.1.2. Studies on Time Words | 第22-24页 |
| 2.1.3. Studies on Chinese Time Words Expressing “Present” | 第24-25页 |
| 2.2 Studies on Iconicity | 第25-33页 |
| 2.2.1 Definition of Iconicity | 第26-27页 |
| 2.2.2 Iconicity in Language | 第27-31页 |
| 2.2.3 Application of Iconicity Theory | 第31-33页 |
| 2.3 Studies on Time Expression in the Perspective of Iconicity | 第33页 |
| 2.4 Summary | 第33-35页 |
| Chapter 3 Time in Language and Time in Nature | 第35-41页 |
| 3.1 The Definition of Time | 第36-37页 |
| 3.2 Time in Language | 第37-39页 |
| 3.3 Time in Nature | 第39-41页 |
| Chapter 4 Relations between Chinese Present Time Words and Natural Time | 第41-57页 |
| 4.1 Classification of Chinese Present Time words | 第41-50页 |
| 4.1.1 Different Views on the Part of Speech of Chinese Time Words | 第41-44页 |
| 4.1.2 The Closeness and Categorization Standard of Chinese Present Time Words | 第44-47页 |
| 4.1.3 Collection and Classification of Chinese Present Time Words | 第47-50页 |
| 4.2 Relations between Chinese Present Time Words and Natural Time | 第50-57页 |
| 4.2.1 Natural Time and Time Expressed in Time Words | 第50-52页 |
| 4.2.2 Relations between Chinese Present Time Words and Natural Time | 第52-57页 |
| Chapter 5 Motivations for Iconicity in Relations between Chinese Present Time Words and Natural Time | 第57-69页 |
| 5.1 Iconicity in Chinese Present Time Words | 第57-64页 |
| 5.1.1 Iconicity in Words That Refer to Time Point | 第57-59页 |
| 5.1.2 Iconicity in Words That Refer to Time Interval | 第59-61页 |
| 5.1.3 Iconicity in Words That Can Refer to Both Time Point and Time Interval | 第61-64页 |
| 5.2 Motivations for Iconicity in Chinese Present Time Words | 第64-69页 |
| 5.2.1 Motivations for Iconicity in Language | 第65-66页 |
| 5.2.2 Motivations for Iconicity in Chinese Present Time Words | 第66-69页 |
| Chapter 6 Conclusion | 第69-75页 |
| 6.1 Research Findings | 第69-73页 |
| 6.2 Limitations of the research and further research suggestions | 第73-75页 |
| 6.2.1 Limitations of the research | 第73-74页 |
| 6.2.2 Suggestions for further research | 第74-75页 |
| References | 第75-81页 |
| Appendix | 第81-84页 |
