| Acknowledgements | 第1-7页 |
| Abstract | 第7-9页 |
| 摘要 | 第9-12页 |
| Chapter 1 Introduction | 第12-16页 |
| ·Background of the Study | 第12-13页 |
| ·Significance of the Study | 第13-14页 |
| ·Overall Structure of the Thesis | 第14-16页 |
| Chapter 2 Literature Review | 第16-37页 |
| ·An Overview of the Studies on Hedges | 第16-20页 |
| ·Definitions of Hedges | 第16-18页 |
| ·Classifications of Hedges | 第18-20页 |
| ·Interpersonal Function in Systemic-Functional Grammar | 第20-30页 |
| ·Introduction to Systemic-Functional Grammar | 第20-22页 |
| ·Interpersonal Function in Halliday’s Functional Grammar | 第22-30页 |
| ·Interface Analysis of Hedges and Modality | 第30-33页 |
| ·The Studies on Hedges at Home and Abroad | 第33-37页 |
| ·Studies on Hedges at Home | 第33-34页 |
| ·Studies on Hedges Abroad | 第34-37页 |
| Chapter 3 Research Methodology | 第37-40页 |
| ·Research Questions | 第37页 |
| ·Data Collection | 第37-38页 |
| ·Data Processing and Analysis | 第38-40页 |
| Chapter 4 Interpersonal Functions of Hedges in the Spokesmen’s Discourse at the Press Conferences of Chinese Foreign Ministry | 第40-59页 |
| ·Hedges Used in the Spokesmen’s Discourse | 第40-44页 |
| ·Interpersonal Functions of Hedges in the Spokesmen’s Discourse at the Press Conferences of Chinese Foreign Ministry | 第44-59页 |
| ·Interpersonal Functions of Approximators | 第44-49页 |
| ·Interpersonal Functions of Shields | 第49-59页 |
| Chapter 5 Conclusion | 第59-62页 |
| ·Major Research Findings | 第59-60页 |
| ·Limitations of the Research | 第60-61页 |
| ·Suggestions for Future Researches | 第61-62页 |
| References | 第62-64页 |
