Chapter 1 Introduction 1
1.1 Background 1
1.2 Purpose and Scope 4
1.3 Data and Methodology 5
1.4 Organization of the Book 6
Chapter 2 Metaphor in Halliday's Systemic-functional Grammar 8
2.1 Introduction 8
2.2 Halliday's Definition of Metaphor 10
2.3 Types of Metaphor 13
2.4 Analyses of Metaphor 25
2.5 Contributions and Challenges 30
2.6 Summary 32
Chapter 3 Thematic Equatives in Halliday's Systemic-functional Grammar 33
3.1 Introduction 33
3.2 Halliday's Definition of Thematic Equatives 33
3.3 Types of Thematic Equatives 35
3.4 Analyses of Thematic Equatives 40
3.5 Contributions and Problems 49
3.6 Summary 50
Chapter 4 Metaphorical-congruent Analysis 51
4.1 Introduction 51
4.2 Aspects and Criteria of'Metaphorical'and'Congruent' 51
4.3 MC Analysis：Model,Principles and Procedures 60
4.4 Advantages of MC Analysis 70
4.5 The Working Model of MC Analysis of Thematic Equatives 71
4.6 Summary 74
Chapter 5 Grammatical MC Analysis of Thematic Equatives in English 75
5.1 Introduction 75
5.2 Ideational MC Analysis 75
5.3 Interpersonal MC Analysis 81
5.4 Textual MC Analysis 86
5.5 An Integrated Grammatical MC Analysis 88
5.6 Contributions and Problems 92
5.7 Summary 94
Chapter 6 Lexical MC Analysis of Thematic Equatives in English 95
6.1 Introduction 95
6.2 General Guidelines of Lexical MC Analysis 96
6.3 Lexical MC Analysis of'x' 100
6.4 Lexical MC Analysis of'be' 107
6.5 Lexical MC Analysis of'a' 113
6.6 An Integrated Lexical MC Analysis 115
6.7 General Discussions 116
6.8 Summary 118
Chapter 7 Phonological MC Analysis of Thematic Equatives in English 119
7.1 Introduction 119
7.2 Tone Units,Tonicity,and Functions of Intonation 119
7.3 The MC Analysis of Tone Unit and Information Structure of Thematic Equatives in English 123
7.4 Evidence from a Small Survey 127
7.5 Summary 134
Chapter 8 Peripheral Features of Thematic Equatives in English：An MC Analysis Perspective 135
8.1 Introduction 135
8.2 Peripheral Logical Features 135
8.3 Peripheral Experiential Features 139
8.4 Peripheral Interpersonal Features 142
8.5 Peripheral Textual Features 144
8.6 Peripheral Lexical Features 146
8.7 Peripheral Phonological Features 147
8.8 Summary 147
Chapter 9 Conclusion 149
9.1 Introduction 149
9.2 Summary of the Main Points 149
9.3 Implications 150
9.4 Remaining Problems for Further Research 151
9.5 Concluding Remarks 152
References 153