| Acknowledgements | 第1-7页 |
| Abstract | 第7-9页 |
| 中文摘要 | 第9-10页 |
| Chapter One Introduction | 第10-14页 |
| Chapter Two Exploring the Concept of Hedging | 第14-25页 |
| ·Fuzziness and vague language | 第14-16页 |
| ·The concept of hedging | 第16-25页 |
| ·L.A. Zadeh’s study of fuzziness | 第17-19页 |
| ·Lakoff’s study on hedges | 第19-20页 |
| ·Study of hedges in China | 第20-25页 |
| Chapter Three The Classification and Functions of Hedging | 第25-43页 |
| ·The classification of hedging | 第25-30页 |
| ·Prince, et al.’s classification of hedging | 第25-29页 |
| ·Hubler’s classification of hedging | 第29-30页 |
| ·The linguistic realization of hedging | 第30-33页 |
| ·The functions of hedging (from semantic to pragmatic) | 第33-43页 |
| ·Hedging as a semantic phenomenon with an ideational function | 第35-38页 |
| ·H edging increases fuzziness | 第35-36页 |
| ·H edging decreases fuzziness | 第36-38页 |
| ·Semantic features of hedging | 第38-41页 |
| ·Hedging as a pragmatic phenomenon with an interpersonal function | 第41-43页 |
| Chapter Four Pragmatic Analysis of the Function of Hedging | 第43-70页 |
| ·The pragmatic approach to the functions of hedging | 第43页 |
| ·Hedging and conversational implicature | 第43-45页 |
| ·Hedges and co-operative principle | 第45-52页 |
| ·Grice’s co-operative principle | 第46-47页 |
| ·Hedges and the maxims of co-operative principle | 第47-52页 |
| ·Hedges and FTA theory, politeness principle | 第52-62页 |
| ·Brown and Levison’s FTA theory and politeness theory | 第53-54页 |
| ·Leech’s politeness principle | 第54-56页 |
| ·Hedges and FTA theory and politeness principle | 第56-62页 |
| ·Hedging failure in the conversational principles | 第62-65页 |
| ·Summary | 第65-70页 |
| Chapter Five Implications for Future Study | 第70-72页 |
| References | 第72-75页 |
