| Acknowledgements | 第4-9页 |
| Abbreviations, Data Bases and Electronic Corpora | 第9-10页 |
| Abstract | 第10-12页 |
| 摘要 | 第13-15页 |
| Chapter One Introduction | 第15-24页 |
| 1.1 Research Background | 第15-19页 |
| 1.2 Research Questions | 第19页 |
| 1.3 Objectives and Significances of Current Research | 第19-20页 |
| 1.4 Data and Methodology | 第20-22页 |
| 1.5 Overall Arrangement of the Thesis | 第22-24页 |
| Chapter Two Literature Review | 第24-36页 |
| 2.1 Previous Studies on the Grammaticalization of “Ji” (极) | 第24-29页 |
| 2.1.1 The Grammaticalization Direction of “Ji” (极) | 第24-27页 |
| 2.1.2 Motivations and Mechanisms of the Evolution of “Ji” (极) | 第27-29页 |
| 2.1.3 Summary | 第29页 |
| 2.2 Previous Studies on Constructionalist Approach to Language Change | 第29-35页 |
| 2.2.1 Grammaticalization | 第30-32页 |
| 2.2.2 Construction Grammar and Diachronic Construction Grammar | 第32-35页 |
| 2.3 Summary | 第35-36页 |
| Chapter Three Theoretical Foundations | 第36-47页 |
| 3.1 Construction at A Glance | 第36-39页 |
| 3.2 Diachronic Construction Grammar | 第39-43页 |
| 3.2.1 Constructional Change and Constructionalization | 第40-41页 |
| 3.2.2 Schematicity, Productivity, and Compositionality | 第41-42页 |
| 3.2.3 Mechanisms of Change | 第42-43页 |
| 3.3 Usage-Based Model of Language | 第43-44页 |
| 3.4 Summary | 第44-47页 |
| Chapter Four The Evolution Process of Construction “Ji” (极) | 第47-59页 |
| 4.1 The Constructional Change of “Ji” (极) | 第47-49页 |
| 4.2 The Constructionalization of “Ji” (极) | 第49-57页 |
| 4.2.1 The Evolution of “Ji” (极) from Nouns to Verbs and Adjectives | 第49-51页 |
| 4.2.2 The Evolution of “Ji” (极) from Verbs and Adjectives to Degree Adverb .. | 第51-54页 |
| 4.2.3 The Complementation of Degree Adverb“Ji” (极) | 第54-57页 |
| 4.3 Summary | 第57-59页 |
| Chapter Five The Leading Features of Constructional Change and Constructionalization of “Ji” (极) | 第59-65页 |
| 5.1 Increase in Schematicity | 第59-61页 |
| 5.2 Increase in Productivity | 第61-62页 |
| 5.3 Decrease in Compositionality | 第62-64页 |
| 5.4 Summary | 第64-65页 |
| Chapter Six The Motivations and Mechanisms of Constructional Change and Constructionalization of “Ji” (极) | 第65-74页 |
| 6.1 Generalization and Metaphor | 第65-67页 |
| 6.2 Neoanalysis and Analogization | 第67-68页 |
| 6.3 The Role of Context | 第68-69页 |
| 6.4 Subjectification | 第69-73页 |
| 6.4.1 From Objective Meaning to Subjective Meaning | 第70-71页 |
| 6.4.2 From Propositional Function to Discourse Function | 第71-72页 |
| 6.4.3 From Syntactic Subject to Speaking Subject | 第72页 |
| 6.4.4 From Free Form to Bonded Form | 第72-73页 |
| 6.5 Summary | 第73-74页 |
| Chapter Seven Conclusion | 第74-79页 |
| 7.1 Major Findings | 第74-76页 |
| 7.2 Implications | 第76-77页 |
| 7.3 Limitations and Suggestions | 第77-79页 |
| References | 第79-88页 |
