Chapter Ⅰ Introduction
1.1 Background and Significance of a Systematic Study of Ni zhidao
1.2 Hypotheses and Research Questions
1.3 Theoretical Framework
1.3.1 Conversation Analysis
1.3.2 Gels' Model of Speech Acts and Social Actions
1.3.3 Relevance Theory
1.3.4 Theory of Adaptation
1.4 Terminological Diversity and Working Definition
1.4.1 Terminological Diversity
1.4.2 Working Definition
1.5 Organization of This Book
Chapter Ⅱ Review of Literature
2.1 Studies Abroad
2.1.1 Previous Approaches to DMs
2.1.2 Semantic Studies of DMs
2.1.3 Studies of the Positions of DMs
2.1.4 Pragmatic Studies of DMs
2.1.5 Prosodic Studies of DMs
2.1.6 Studies of You Know
2.2 Studies at Home
2.2.1 Overview
2.2.2 Representative Work
2.2.3 Studies of Ni zhidao
2.3 Summary
Chapter Ⅲ Methodology
3.1 Research Design
3.2 Introduction to the Corpus of the Study
3.2.1 Rationale for Selection of Media Interview Conversations as Research Data: Spontaneous and Institutional
3.2.2 The Corpus Data Per Se and the Process of the Establishment of the Corpus
3.2.3 Participants of the Media Interviews in the Corpus
3.3 Aspects Concerning Data Analysis
3.3.1 Rationale for Analysis of the Prosodic Features of Ni zhidao
3.3.2 Tools Used for This Study
3.3.3 Analytical Framework
3.3.4 Quantitative Analysis vs Qualitative Analysis
3.3.5 Defining \"Utterance\" and Classification of Ni zhidao Based on Utterance Positions
3.3.6 Exclusion of the Non-DM Usage of Ni zhidao
3.4 Summary
Chapter Ⅳ Quantitative Analysis
4.1 Variants and Variant Distribution in the Data
4.2 Distribution of Variants in Utterances
4.2.1 Distribution of Variants Based on Utterance Positions
4.2.2 Distribution Based on Variants
4.2.3 Discussion
4.3 Prostxtic Analysis
4.3.1 Duration and Speech Rate
4.3.2 Pause
4.3.3 Pitch
4.3.4 Intensity
4.3.5 Relationship Between the Prosodic Features
4.4 Summary
Chapter Ⅴ Qualitative Analysis
5.1 Semanntics of Ni zhidao
5.2 Modes of Usage of Ni zhidao Based on Its Indexical Functions
5.2.1 S1-Targeted Mode
5.2.2 S2-Targeted Mode
5.2.3 S1- and S2-Targeted Modes
5.2.4 Inserted Mode
5.3 Pragmatic Functions of Ni zhidao
5.3.1 Textual Functions
5.3.2 Interpersonal Functions
5.4 Interrelationship Between the Prosodic Features, the Semantics,the Utterance Positions, and the Pragmatic Functions of Ni thidao
5.4.1 The Relationship Between the Prosodic Features and the Utterance Positions of Ni zhidao
5.4.2 The Relationship Between the Prosodic Features and the Semantics of Ni zhidao
5.4.3 The Relationship Between the Prosodic Features and the Pragmatic Functions of Ni zhidao
5.5 Summary
Chapter Ⅵ Conclusion
6.1 Major Research Findings
6.1.1 Findings Concerning the Utterance Distribution of Ni zhidao
6.1.2 Findings Concerning the Prosodic Features of Ni zhidao
6.1.3 Findings Concerning the Semantic Status of Ni zhidao
6.1.4 Findings Concerning the Pragmatic Functions of Ni zhidao
6.1.5 Findings Concerning the Interrelationship Between the Prosodic Features, the Semantics, the Utterance Positionsand the Pragmatic Functions of Ni zhidao
6.2 Implications
6.3 Limitations and Further Research
References
Appendix