Chapter 1 Introduction

1.1 A profile of research background

1.2 Towards an understanding of e-discourse

1.2.1 A note on terminology and definitions

1.2.2 A note on taxonomies

1.3 Aims and objectives

1.4 Data and methodology

1.5 Theoretical framework

1.6 Organization of the thesis

Chapter 2 An Overview of Previous Studies

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Social scientific perspective

2.2.1 Relationships-lost view revisited

2.2.2 Relationships-found view revisited

2.2.2.1 SIP theory

2.2.2.2 SIDE model

2.2.3 Discussion

2.3 Linguistic perspective

2.3.1 Comparison between e-discourse，speech and writing

2.3.2 Two basic forms of e-discourse

2.3.2.1 Synchronous e-discourse

2.3.2.2 Asynchronous e-discourse

2.3.3 Channel effects on e-discourse

2.3.4 E-discourse research in China

2.3.5 Discussion

2.4 Summary

Chapter 3 Theoretical Foundations

3.1 Introduction

3.2 SFL：a functional model of language

3.2.1 System and structure

3.2.2 Modeling stratification of language in context

3.2.3 Functional diversification：intrinsic and extrinsic functionality

3.2.3.1 Intrinsic functionality：metafunctional diversification

3.2.3.2 Modeling interpersonal meaning

3.2.3.3 Extrinsic functionality：contextual diversification

3.2.3.4 Context of culture

3.3 Summary

Chapter 4 E-discourse in the AT Forum：A Sociocultural Background

4.1 Introduction

4.2 General cultural background of the AT Forum

4.3 Situational background：identifying five major situation types

4.3.1 The self-introducing situation

4.3.2 The rule-breaching situation

4.3.3 The help-seeking situation

4.3.4 The information-disseminating situation

4.3.5 The discussion-eliciting situation

4.3.6 Quantitative verification

4.4 Context of situation and material situational setting

4.5 E-discourse in the AT Forum

4.6 Summary

Chapter 5 Negotiation in E-discourse：Articulating Role Relationships

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Mood patterns as indicators of role relations

5.2.1 Mood patterns：basic resources for negotiation

5.2.2 Mood patterns as markers of power relations

5.2.2.1 Mood patterns：encoding power exercised by managerial members

5.2.2.2 Mood selections：construing relative power exerted by help providers

5.3 Speech functional patterns and role relations

5.3.1 Speech function：semantic resource for negotiation

5.3.2 Speech functional choices：encoding power difierence and social distance

5.4 Summary

Chapter 6 Involvement in E-discourse：Encoding Affiliation and Affinity

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Naming

6.3 Epistolary devices

6.4 Grapho-phonemic manipulations

6.4.1 Abbreviations

6.4.2 Emoticons

6.4.3 Written paralinguistic and prosodic surrogates

6.5 Slang

6.6 Swearing

6.7 Technicality

6.8 Quoting

6.9 Code-switching

6.10 Summary

Chapter 7 Conclusion

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Summary of the study

7.3 Implications of the study

7.4 Suggestions for future research

7.5 Concluding remarks

References

Appendices

Appendix 1 Some Oft-cited AT Forum Rules and Guidelines

Appendix 2 The Links of the One-month Data Set

Appendix 3 The Original Version of the Texts Cited

Appendix 4 The Rule-breaching Data in the One month Data Set（Adapted Version）

Appendix 5 A Sample Coding Sheet for Mood Analysis of the Rule-breaching Data（Thread G-09）

Appendix 6 A Short List of Netcronyms

Appendix 7 Two Lists of Emoticons