CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABSTRACT

摘要

Chapter One  INTRODUCTION-1

1.1 Background of the Study-1

1.2 Objectives of the Study-2

1.3 Significance of the Study-2

1.4 Structure of the Thesis-4

Chapter Two  LITERATURE REVIEW-5

2.1 Theoretical Studies on Intensifiers-5

2.1.1 Definitions of Intensifiers-5

2.1.2 Classifications of Intensifiers-7

2.2 Empirical Studies on Intensifiers-7

2.2.1 Research on L1’s Use of Intensifiers-8

2.2.2 Research on L2’s Use of Intensifiers-8

2.3 Summary-9

Chapter Three  METHODOLOGY-10

3.1 Theoretical Framework of the Thesis-10

3.1.1 Amplifiers-11

3.1.2 Downtoners-11

3.2 Research Questions-13

3.3 Corpus-13

3.4 Intensifiers to be Studied-14

3.5 Data Analysis-15

3.5.1 Instrument-16

3.5.2 Procedures-16

3.6 Summary-17

Chapter Four  RESULTS AND DISCUSSION-18

4.1 Chinese English Majors’ General Use of Adv-intensifiers in Writing-18

4.2 Chinese English Majors’ Use of Amplifiers in Writing-19

4.2.1 Chinese English Majors’ Use of Maximizers in Writing-19

4.2.2 Chinese English Majors’ Use of Boosters in Writing-24

4.3 Chinese English Majors’ Use of Downtoners in Writing-28

4.3.1 Chinese English Majors’ Use of Approximators in Writing-28

4.3.2 Chinese English Majors’ Use of Compromisers in Writing-31

4.3.3 Chinese English Majors’ Use of Diminishers in Writing-34

4.3.4 Chinese English Majors’ Use of Minimizers in Writing-37

4.4 Summary-39

Chapter Five  CONCLUSION-41

5.1 Major Findings of the Study-41

5.2 Implications of the Study-42

5.3 Limitations of the Study-43

5.4 Recommendations for Future Research-43

References-45