指示语是语言形式关联语境最直接的表现，故向来是语义学与语用学的重要研究课题。在指示语研究范畴中，动词是相对涉足较浅的领域。对指示动词的研究大多集中在运动动词，如come和go上，而Fillmore、Lyons、Talmy、Clark等人对指示运动动词come和go的研究可谓是该领域的经典之作。除此之外，学界很少有人系统全面地研究其他指示动词，尤其是结合真实话语语料做出解释的。指示动词的这一研究现状促就了本文的研究对象：指示行动动词，即讨论话语理解中的行动动词是如何关联或指示话语语境的。
指示动词中难道就只有运动动词对语境有指示性吗？其他动词难道就没有吗？哪些行动动词在话语理解中体现出典型的指示性？行动动词的指示又有什么和传统指示不一样的特征吗？这些正是本书要探讨和回答的问题。

Abstract
Chapter One Introduction
1.1 Research Background and Rationale
1.2 Delimitation of the Research Object
1.3 Research Questions
1.4 Data Collection
1.5 Outline of the Dissertation
Chapter Two Literature Review
2.1 Studies Related to Deixis
2.1.1 A Word of Terminology
2.1.2 Definitions of Deixis
2.1.3 Core Concepts of Deixis
2.1.4 Categories of Deixis
2.1.5 Subjectivity of Deixis
2.2 Previous Linguistic Inquiries on Deictic Motion Verbs
2.2 .1 Studies Relating to Deictic Center
2.2.2 Studies Relating to Appropriateness Conditions
2.2.3 Studies Relating to Perspective
2.2.4 Studies in Cross-linguistic Evidence
2.2.5 Studies in Language Acquisition
2.3 Summary
Chapter Three Context of Action Verbs in Utterances
3.1 Context at the Utterance Level
3.2 Context at the Actional Level
3.2.1 Spatial Direction
3.2.2 Temporal Orientation
3.2.3 Instrumentality
3.2.4 Degree of Effect
3.2.5 Agent's Mental State
3.3 Context of Action Extended
3.3.1 Social Context
3.3.2 Cultural Context
3.4 Summary
Chapter Four Politeness Strategies and Action Verbs
4.1 Introduction
4.1.1 Delimitation of Politeness Strategies
4.1.2 Politeness Strategies and Action Verbs
4.2 Understanding Socially Deictic Action Verbs
4.2.1 Honorific Verbs
4.2.2 Delimitation of Socially Deictic Action Verbs
4.3 Action Verbs ' Pointing to ' Politeness Principles: An Empirical Investigation
4.3.1 Respect Deference
4.3.2 Modesty Humbleness
4.3.3 Hospitality
4.3.4 Friendliness
4.3.5 Freedom of Action
4.3.6 Honesty
4.4 Summary
Chapter Five Cultural Assumptions and Action Verbs
5.1 Constructing Models of Mainstream Culture
5.1.1 Defining American Culture
5.1.2 Understanding the Mainstream Culture
5.1.3 Shaping the Mainstream Cultural Assumptions
5.2 Understanding Culturally Deictic Action Verbs
5.2.1 Approaching Cultural Indexicality
5.2.2 Delimitating Culturally Deictic Action Verbs
5.2.3 Deictic Mode of Culturally Deictic Action Verbs
5.3 Action Verbs ' Pointing to ' Cultural Assumptions: An Empirical Investigation
5.3.1 'Pointing to' Basic Beliefs
5.3.2 'Pointing to' Dominant Values
5.3.3 'Pointing to' Mainstream Attitudes
5.4 Summary
Chapter Six Conclusion
6.1 Major Findings of the Study
6.2 Implications of the Study
6.3 Limitations of the Study
6.4 Suggestions for Future Research
Appendix I
Appendix II
Appendix III
Appendix IV
Appendix V
Appendix VI
Bibliography
Acknowledgement