| ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS | 第1-5页 |
| Abstract in Chinese | 第5-6页 |
| Abstract in English | 第6-10页 |
| 1.Introduction | 第10-13页 |
| ·Research background | 第10-11页 |
| ·Data collection and methodology | 第11页 |
| ·Layout of the paper | 第11-13页 |
| 2.An Overview of Researches on Metonymy | 第13-29页 |
| ·Traditional View of Metonymy | 第13-14页 |
| ·Cognitive view of metonymy | 第14-17页 |
| ·Metonymy as a conceptual phenomenon | 第14-15页 |
| ·Metonymy as a cognitive process | 第15-16页 |
| ·Metonymy operates within an idealized cognitive model | 第16-17页 |
| ·Realms in which metonymy occurs | 第17-18页 |
| ·Types of metonymy-producing relationships | 第18-24页 |
| ·Whole ICM and its Part(s) | 第19-22页 |
| ·Parts of an ICM | 第22-24页 |
| ·Classifications of metonymy | 第24-29页 |
| ·Panther and Thornburg's taxonomy of metonymy | 第24-26页 |
| ·Ruiz de Mendoza's taxonomy of metonymy | 第26-29页 |
| 3.Characteristics of Chinese VRCs | 第29-35页 |
| ·Taxonomy of Chinese VRCs | 第29-30页 |
| ·Semantic structure of VRCs | 第30-31页 |
| ·Multiple sources of the causer in Chinese VRCs | 第31-35页 |
| 4.Metonymic Explanation of Causer Selection in Chinese VRCs | 第35-41页 |
| ·Semantic foundation of metonymy in causer selection in Chinese VRCs | 第35页 |
| ·Eventivity of the causer in VRCs | 第35-37页 |
| ·Cognitive motivation of metonymy in causer selection in Chinese VRCs | 第37-41页 |
| ·Relative salience principle | 第37-38页 |
| ·Economy principle | 第38-41页 |
| 5.Constraints on Realization of Metonymy in Causer Selection in Chinese VRCs | 第41-47页 |
| ·Internal semantic constraint of VRCs | 第41-43页 |
| ·Causativity of semantic constituents of the causing event in Chinese VRCs | 第43-47页 |
| 6.Conclusion | 第47-49页 |
| ·Summary of the thesis | 第47页 |
| ·Major findings and limitations of the thesis | 第47-48页 |
| ·Suggestions for further research | 第48-49页 |
| Bibliography | 第49-51页 |
