| Declaration | 第1-5页 |
| Abstract | 第5-7页 |
| Acknowledgements | 第7-11页 |
| Part Ⅰ The theoretical foundation of deception | 第11-78页 |
| Chapter One Introduction | 第12-28页 |
| ·Research Orientation | 第12-13页 |
| ·The object of the research | 第13-14页 |
| ·A brief review of past studies | 第14-19页 |
| ·Problems existing in the past studies | 第19-20页 |
| ·The rationale of the present research | 第20-22页 |
| ·The objectives of the present research | 第22-23页 |
| ·The research methodology and source of data | 第23-25页 |
| ·The outline of the dissertation | 第25-26页 |
| ·Notes on terminology | 第26-28页 |
| Chapter Two Literature Review | 第28-58页 |
| ·Introduction | 第28页 |
| ·The delimitation of DEC | 第28-42页 |
| ·The working definition of DEC | 第28-33页 |
| ·DEC and irony | 第33-34页 |
| ·DEC and boasting | 第34-35页 |
| ·Forms of DEC | 第35-42页 |
| ·Different approaches to deception | 第42-55页 |
| ·The psychological approach | 第42-46页 |
| ·The sociological approach | 第46-48页 |
| ·The discourse analytical approach | 第48-50页 |
| ·The pragmatic approach | 第50-55页 |
| ·The present study | 第55-56页 |
| ·Summary | 第56-58页 |
| Chapter Three A Description of the Theoretical Framework | 第58-78页 |
| ·Introduction | 第58页 |
| ·Problems existing in the studies on deception | 第58-60页 |
| ·DEC from the pragmatic perspective—adaptation theory | 第60-67页 |
| ·Making choices | 第62-63页 |
| ·Variability, negotiability and adaptability | 第63-67页 |
| ·DEC as a result of choice-making | 第67-69页 |
| ·DEC as a result of negotiation and adaptation | 第69-73页 |
| ·Negotiability of DEC | 第69-71页 |
| ·DEC as realization of adaptation | 第71-73页 |
| ·DEC as a way to achieve communicative goals | 第73-76页 |
| ·Summary | 第76-78页 |
| Part Ⅱ The aspects of the meaningful functioning of DEC | 第78-139页 |
| Chapter Four Variability of Deception | 第79-104页 |
| ·Introduction | 第79页 |
| ·The notion of variability | 第79-80页 |
| ·Variability of goal-orientation | 第80-88页 |
| ·Relational-goal-oriented DECs | 第81-83页 |
| ·Identity-goal-oriented DECs | 第83-85页 |
| ·Instrumental-goal-oriented DECs | 第85-88页 |
| ·Variability of manipulation | 第88-103页 |
| ·Intentionally misrepresenting the true information | 第89-96页 |
| ·Withholding pertinent information on purpose | 第96-98页 |
| ·Deliberately masking covert violation of topic relevance | 第98-103页 |
| ·Summary | 第103-104页 |
| Chapter Five Adaptability of Deception | 第104-124页 |
| ·Introduction | 第104页 |
| ·Adaptability revisited | 第104-105页 |
| ·Contextual correlates of DEC adaptation | 第105-122页 |
| ·DEC as a means of adaptation to the mental world | 第105-113页 |
| ·DEC as a means of adaptation to the social world | 第113-122页 |
| ·Summary | 第122-124页 |
| Chapter Six Pragmatic Effects of Deception | 第124-139页 |
| ·Introduction | 第124-125页 |
| ·Enhancing the appropriateness of the utterance | 第125-133页 |
| ·Minimizing the face-threatening effects | 第125-128页 |
| ·Easing embarrassment or reversing unhappy situations | 第128-131页 |
| ·Masking negative information | 第131-133页 |
| ·Improving interpersonal relationships | 第133-137页 |
| ·Creating a relationship | 第133-134页 |
| ·Maintaining a harmonious relationship | 第134-137页 |
| ·Summary | 第137-139页 |
| Part Ⅲ Concluding remarks | 第139-148页 |
| Chapter Seven Conclusion | 第140-148页 |
| ·Introduction | 第140页 |
| ·Major findings in the present study | 第140-142页 |
| ·A tentative adaptation principle | 第142-144页 |
| ·Implications of the study | 第144-145页 |
| ·Limitations of the study | 第145-146页 |
| ·Suggestions for future study | 第146-148页 |
| Bibliography | 第148-156页 |
