CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION

1.1 ．Motivations and scope of this research

1.2 ．Research methodology and data collection

1.3 ．Feasibility of iconicity in word order

1.4 ．A brief sketch of the chapters

CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 ．Studies on word order at large

2.2 ．Previous studies on the order of coordinate idioms

2.3 ．Previous studies on the order of prenominal modifiers within a noun phrase

2.4 ．Discussion and summary

CHAPTER THREE THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK：ICONICITY AND ICONICITY PRINCIPLES

3.1 ．Arbitrariness versus Iconicity

3.2 ．Three principles of Iconicity

3.3 ．Summary

CHAPTER FOUR AN ICONIC ANALYSIS 0F WORD ORDER WITHIN COORDINATE IDIOMS

4.1 ．Definition and general properties

4.2 ．The analysis of coordinate idioms from Temporal Order Principle

4.3 ．The analysis of coordinate idioms from Spatial Order

4.4 ．An analysis of coordinate idioms from Markedness Order

4.5 ．Discussion and summary

CHAPTER FIVE AN ICONIC ANALYSIS 0F WORD ORDER WITHIN PRENOMINAL MODIFIERS

5.1 ．Definitions of modifiers within an English noun phrase

5.2 ．Classifications of modifiers

5.3 ．Linear order of determiners

5.4 ．Linear order of adjectivals as prenominal modifiers

5.5 ．Gradability degree of prenominal adjectives

5.6 ．Discussion and summary

CHAPTER SIX CONCLUSION

6.1 ．Findings

6.2 ．Limitations and further work

References