| 摘要 | 第1-5页 |
| Abstract | 第5-8页 |
| Table of Figures | 第8-9页 |
| Chapter 1 Introduction | 第9-12页 |
| ·An Overview of the Thesis | 第9页 |
| ·The Rationale and Data Source for the Thesis | 第9-10页 |
| ·Methodology for the Thesis | 第10-11页 |
| ·Organization of the Thesis | 第11-12页 |
| Chapter 2 Literature Review | 第12-25页 |
| ·Research on Vague Language | 第12-20页 |
| ·History of Vagueness Research | 第12-13页 |
| ·Definition and Classification of Vagueness | 第13-16页 |
| ·Fuzzy Set Theory and Prototype Theory | 第16-17页 |
| ·Features and Functions of Vague Language | 第17-20页 |
| ·Theories on Semantics and Pragmatics | 第20-23页 |
| ·Semantic Field Theory and Vagueness | 第20页 |
| ·Presupposition and Vagueness | 第20-21页 |
| ·Conversational Implicature and Vagueness | 第21-22页 |
| ·Politeness Principle and Vagueness | 第22-23页 |
| ·Introduction of the State of the Union | 第23-25页 |
| ·Public Speaking | 第23-24页 |
| ·The State of the Union | 第24-25页 |
| Chapter 3 Analysis of Vague Language in the State of the Union | 第25-43页 |
| ·Distribution and Analysis of Lexical Vagueness in the State of the Union | 第25-36页 |
| ·Vague Adjectives & Adverbs in the State of the Union | 第25-27页 |
| ·Vague Verbs in the State of the Union | 第27-30页 |
| ·Vague Pronouns in the State of the Union | 第30-32页 |
| ·Vague Nouns in the State of the Union | 第32-35页 |
| ·Hedges in the State of the Union | 第35-36页 |
| ·Analysis of Syntactical Vagueness in the State of the Union | 第36-39页 |
| ·Using Progressive Tense to Achieve Vagueness | 第36-37页 |
| ·Using Negative Structure to Achieve Vagueness | 第37-38页 |
| ·Using Passive Structure to Achieve Vagueness | 第38页 |
| ·Using Comparative and Superlative Structure to Achieve Vagueness | 第38-39页 |
| ·Analysis of Rhetorical Vagueness in the State of the Union | 第39-43页 |
| ·Using Metaphor to Achieve Vagueness | 第39-40页 |
| ·Using Euphemism to Achieve Vagueness | 第40-41页 |
| ·Using Hyperbole to Achieve Vagueness | 第41-42页 |
| ·Using Irony to Achieve Vagueness | 第42-43页 |
| Chapter 4 Functions of Vague Language in the State of the Union | 第43-47页 |
| Chapter 5 Conclusion | 第47-50页 |
| ·Major Findings | 第47-48页 |
| ·Implications and Limitations | 第48页 |
| ·Suggestions for Further Study | 第48-50页 |
| References | 第50-53页 |
| 攻读学位期间主要的研究成果目录 | 第53-54页 |
| Acknowledgements | 第54页 |
