声明
Acknowledgements
Contents
Abbreviations and Symbols
Abstract
摘要
Chapter One Introduction
1.1 Research question
1.2 Background of the study
1.3 Purpose of the study
1.4 Significance of the study
1.5 Organization of this thesis
Chapter Two Literature Review
2.1 Existing studies on meaning measurement
2.1.1 From the perspective of Grice’s Cooperative Principle
2.1.2 From the perspective of Relevance Theory
2.1.3 From the perspective of Coherence Lines Identification
2.2 The problems of the existing studies
2.2.1 Lack of specification for meaning prediction
2.2.2 Lack of a workable linguistic instrument
2.3 Possible solutions to the problems
2.4 Existing studies on courtroom discourse
2.4.1 Overseas and domestic researches on courtroom discourse
2.4.2 The problems of the existing studies
2.5 Summary
Chapter Three Theoretical Framework
3.1 Predictability and acceptability
3.2 Properties of Predictability
3.2.1 Predictability in dynamic negotiation
3.2.2 Predictability in game theory
3.2.3 Predictability in choice-making
3.2.4 Predictability in intention
3.2.5 Predictability from the speaker’s view
3.3 The meaning-prediction process
3.4 The Scale of predictability
3.4.1 Basic postulates
3.4.2 Basic degree of predictability
3.5 A suggested model of meaning prediction
3.5.1 Identification of the meaning types
3.5.2 Prediction of the means of coherence structure
3.5.3 The relevant elements involving in prediction process
3.6 Summary
Chapter Four The Application of the Model to a Civil Case
4.1 Structure of trial conversation
4.1.1 Turn-taking
4.1.2 Adjacency pair
4.1.3 Initiation+Response+Follow up
4.2 The case:Dominguez V.Scott’s Food Stores,INC
4.3 Question-Answer interactive inference mechanism
4.3.1 A modified model
4.3.2 Sequence and meaning-predictability
4.3.3 Types of Speaker’s initiating act
4.4 Interpretation of trial discourse under the framework of meaning-predictability
4.4.1 Inference and predictability
4.4.2 Question forms and predictability
4.4.3 Presupposition and predictability
4.5 Summary
Chapter Five Conclusion
5.1 Major findings of the study
5.2 Implications of the study
5.2.1 Theoretical implication
5.2.2 Practical implication
5.3 Limitations and prospects for further research
References
Appendix