Preface 1
PART ONE PRELIMINARIES 3
Chapter Ⅰ Introduction 3
1.1 Research Motivations and Questions 3
1.2 The Problems of the Previous Researches on the Silence in Pinter's Drama 8
1.3 The Relevant Solutions Proposed by the Current Research 22
PART TWO FEATURES AND NORMS OF SILENCE 29
Chapter Ⅱ Silence in the Realm of Language 29
2.1 Introduction 29
2.2 General Definitions of Silence 32
2.3 The Nonabsolute Nature of Silence 34
2.4 Silence as an Organic Linguistic Component 36
2.5 Why is"a Torrent of Language"Silence? 44
2.6 Conclusion 55
Chapter Ⅲ Taxonomies of Silences 58
3.1 Introduction 58
3.2 Taxonomies of Silences in General 58
3.3 A Typology of Silences in Pinter's Drama 66
3.4 Conclusion 96
PART THREE PRAGMATIC FUNCTIONS OF SILENCES IN PINTER'S DRAMATIC DISCOURSE 103
Chapter Ⅳ Theoretical Framework and Methodology 103
4.1 Introduction 103
4.2 Pragmatic Act Theory as the Theoretical Framework 108
4.3 Interpretation Methods of Silence 115
4.4 Conclusion 125
Chapter Ⅴ Silences as Pragmatic Acts in the Interactions among Characters 127
5.1 Introduction 127
5.2 Silences as Cognitive Acts 134
5.3 Silences as Emotional Acts 142
5.4 Silences as Intentional Acts 149
5.5 Conclusion 174
Chapter Ⅵ Silences as Pragmatic Acts in the Communication from the Playwright to the Reader/Audience 176
6.1 Introduction 176
6.2 The Model of Literary Communication in Pinter's Dramatic Discourse 179
6.3 Silences as Thematic Acts 182
6.4 Silences as Dramatic Acts 205
6.5 Silences as Poetic Acts 229
6.6 Conclusion 249
PART FOUR Finale 252
Chapter Ⅶ Conclusion 252
7.1 Summary 252
7.2 Contributions and Implications 254
7.3 Limitations and Suggestions 258
Bibliography 261
Appendix 282
Acknowledgements 285