| Abstract | 第8-9页 |
| 摘要 | 第10-12页 |
| Chapter One Introduction | 第12-16页 |
| 1.1 Background of the Study | 第12-13页 |
| 1.2 Objectives and Significance of the Study | 第13-14页 |
| 1.3 Organization of the Thesis | 第14-16页 |
| Chapter Two Literature Review | 第16-34页 |
| 2.1 General Introduction of Hedges | 第16-26页 |
| 2.1.1 Definition of Hedges | 第16-19页 |
| 2.1.2 Classification of Hedges | 第19-26页 |
| 2.2 Pragmatic Approach to Hedges | 第26-29页 |
| 2.2.1 The Pragmatic Approach | 第26-27页 |
| 2.2.2 Other Approaches to Hedges | 第27-29页 |
| 2.3 Hedges in Legal Documents and Courtroom Trials | 第29-33页 |
| 2.3.1 The Relation between Law and Language | 第29-30页 |
| 2.3.2 Previous Studies on Hedges in Legal Documents | 第30-31页 |
| 2.3.3 Previous Studies on Hedges in Courtroom Trials | 第31-33页 |
| 2.3.3.1 Hedges Used by Participants Involved in Courtroom Trials | 第31-32页 |
| 2.3.3.2 Perspectives of Theories Used in the Study of Hedges | 第32-33页 |
| 2.4 Summary | 第33-34页 |
| Chapter Three Theoretical Basis and Methodology | 第34-44页 |
| 3.1 Theoretical Basis of the Study | 第34-39页 |
| 3.1.1 Hedges as Pragmatic Vagueness | 第34-35页 |
| 3.1.2 Cooperative Principle and Hedges | 第35-38页 |
| 3.1.3 Politeness Principle and Hedges | 第38-39页 |
| 3.2 Methodology of the Study | 第39-42页 |
| 3.2.1 Research Questions | 第40页 |
| 3.2.2 Data Sources | 第40-41页 |
| 3.2.3 Criteria for the Data Collection | 第41-42页 |
| 3.2.4 Procedures of the Study | 第42页 |
| 3.3 Summary | 第42-44页 |
| Chapter Four Results and Discussion | 第44-69页 |
| 4.1 Frequency and Distribution of Use of Hedges in Courtroom Trials | 第44-51页 |
| 4.1.1 Adaptors | 第46-47页 |
| 4.1.2 Rounders | 第47-48页 |
| 4.1.3 Plausibility Shields | 第48-50页 |
| 4.1.4 Attribution Shields | 第50-51页 |
| 4.2 Comparison of Hedges Employed by Defense and Plaintiffs' Lawyers | 第51-55页 |
| 4.2.1 Similarities of Hedges Employed by Defense and Plaintiffs' Lawyers | 第51-53页 |
| 4.2.2 Differences of Hedges Employed by Defense and Plaintiffs' Lawyers | 第53-55页 |
| 4.3 Lawyers' use of Witnesses' Hedges as a Defense Strategy | 第55-57页 |
| 4.4 Analysis of Hedges on the Basis of Pragmatic Principles | 第57-64页 |
| 4.4.1 Analysis of Hedges on the Basis of Cooperative Principle | 第57-61页 |
| 4.4.1.1 Hedges and Maxim of Quantity | 第58页 |
| 4.4.1.2 Hedges and Maxim of Quality | 第58-59页 |
| 4.4.1.3 Hedges and Maxim of Relation | 第59-60页 |
| 4.4.1.4 Hedges and Maxim of Manner | 第60-61页 |
| 4.4.2 Analysis of Hedges on the Basis of Politeness Principle | 第61-64页 |
| 4.4.2.1 Use of Modal Auxiliaries | 第62-63页 |
| 4.4.2.2 Hedges with First Person Pronouns | 第63页 |
| 4.4.2.3 Subjunctive Conditionals | 第63-64页 |
| 4.5 Pragmatic Functions of Hedges in Courtroom Trials | 第64-69页 |
| 4.5.1 Making the Language More Precise | 第64-66页 |
| 4.5.2 Showing Politeness | 第66-67页 |
| 4.5.3 Avoidance of Responsibility | 第67-69页 |
| Chapter Five Conclusion | 第69-73页 |
| 5.1 Major Findings of the Study | 第69-70页 |
| 5.2 Suggestions for Dealing with Clarity and Vagueness | 第70-71页 |
| 5.3 Limitations of the Study | 第71页 |
| 5.4 Suggestions for the Further Study | 第71-73页 |
| References | 第73-76页 |
| Acknowledgements | 第76-77页 |
| 学位论文评阅及答辩情况表 | 第77页 |
