在具体的研究过程中，张玮采用了首先进行理论建构，然后进行分层论证的方式。《隐喻的谋篇机制研究》在研究前人的理论模式的基础上，通过改造和补充、完善构建出一个多层次研究隐喻的理论框架，包括词汇语法层、语义层、语用层和认知层，隐喻在不同的层面上发挥不同的作用，即在认知层面上对隐喻进行投射和融合，在语用层面对隐喻进行识别和协商，在语义层面对隐喻进行构建和联系，最终由词汇语法来体现。通过对不同层面上隐喻的表现来解释和评价语篇的连贯。在其后的三章中，张玮分别探讨了隐喻在语义、语用和认知三个层面上对语篇连贯所作的贡献。

Chapter 1  Introduction
1.1  A Discoual Turn of Metaphor Research
1.2  Metaphor and Discoue Coherence
1.3  Aims of the Present Study
1.4  An Overview of the Book

Chapter 2  Metaphor in Discoue Analysis
2.1  Introduction
2.2  Aspects of Discoue Functio of Metaphor
2.3  Metaphor in Discoue Compreheion
2.3.1  Metaphor in Comprehending Literary Discoue
2.3.2  Metaphor in Comprehending Educational Discoue
2.3.3  Metaphor in Comprehending Scientific Discoue
2.3.4  Metaphor in Critical Discoue Analysis
2.4  Metaphor in Discoue Cotruction
2.4.1  Metaphor and Global Cotruction of Discoue
2.4.2  Metaphor and Local Cotruction of Discoue
2.5  Summary

Chapter 3  Towards A Metaphor Theoretical Approach to the Study of Discoue Coherence
3.1  Introduction
3.2  Three Approaches to Coherence Research： An Overview
3.2.1  Semantic Approach to Discoue Coherence
3.2.2  Pragmatic Approach to Discoue Coherence
3.2.3  Cognitive Approach to Discoue Coherence
3.3  An Integrative Study of Discoue Coherence
3.4  Exploring Levels of Metapho in Discoue
3.4.1  Cameron's Applied Linguistic Approach
3.4.2  Steen's Metaphor Checklist
3.4.3  Charteris  Black's Discoue Model of Metaphor
3.4.4  A Proposed Model on Levels of Metapho in Discoue
3.5  Towards a Metaphor Theoretical Framework for Discoue
Coherence Research
3.5.1  Cognitive  level Metaphor in Discoue Coherence
3.5.2  Pragmatic  level Metaphor in Discoue Coherence
3.5.3  Semantic  level Metaphor in Discoue Coherence
3.6  Summary

Chapter 4  Semantic level Metaphor in Discoue Coherence
4.1  Introduction
4.2  Metaphor Configuration in Discoue
4.2.1  Metaphor Sequencing
4.2.2  Metaphor Merging
4.3  Metaphor Connection in Discoue
4.3.1  Metaphoric Reference
4.3.2  Metaphoric Conjunction
4.3.3  Metaphoric Lexical Cohesion
4.4  Discoue Context and the Interpretation of SM in Discoue
4.4.1  Pre  text
4.4.2  Posttext
4.4.3  Discoue Context and Metaphoric Chunk
4.4.4  Other Effects of Discoue Context
4.5  Summary

Chapter 5  Pragmatic level Metaphor in Discoue Coherence
5.1  Introduction/145
5.2  Metaphor Recognition in Discoue： A Speech Act Approach
5.1  A Metaphoric Speech Act Model for Discoue Coherence
5.2.2  Metaphor Awareness
5.2.3  Metaphor Inference
5.3  Metaphor Negotiation in Discoue： A Conveational Analysis
5.3.1  Local Structure of Metaphoric Conveation
5.3.2  Global Structure of Metaphoric Conveation
5.4  Situational Context and the Interpretation of PM in Discoue
5.4.1  Field
5.4.2  Tenor
5.4.3  Mode
5.5  Summary

Chapter 6  Cognitive level Metaphor in Discoue Coherence
6.1  Introduction
6.2  Metaphoric Mapping in Discoue
6.2.1  Types of Mapping and Their Realization in Discoue
6.2.2  Manne of Mapping and Their Realization in Discoue
6.3  Metaphoric Blending in Discoue
6.3.1  Composition
6.3.2  Completion
6.3.3  Elaboration
6.4  Cognitive Context and the Interpretation of CM in Discoue
6.4.1  Encyclopedic Knowledge
6.4.2  Socio cultural Pattern
6.5  Summary

Chapter 7  Conclusion
7.1  Major Findings of the Present Research
7.2  Major Implicatio
7.2.1  Theoretical Implicatio
7.2.2  Pedagogical Implicatio
7.3  Limitatio and Directio for Future Studies
References