| Acknowledgements | 第1-6页 |
| 摘要 | 第6-8页 |
| Abstract | 第8-12页 |
| 1. Introduction | 第12-14页 |
| ·Research background | 第12页 |
| ·Significance of the research | 第12-13页 |
| ·Thesis layout | 第13-14页 |
| 2. Literature Review | 第14-25页 |
| ·Previous studies on vagueness | 第14-15页 |
| ·Previous studies on hedges and hedging | 第15-21页 |
| ·The concept and definition | 第15-16页 |
| ·Studies on hedges | 第16-18页 |
| ·Classification of hedges | 第18-21页 |
| ·Theoretical framework | 第21-25页 |
| ·Adaptation Theory | 第21-24页 |
| ·Advertising English and Adaptation Theory | 第24-25页 |
| 3. Research Methodology | 第25-29页 |
| ·Research questions | 第25页 |
| ·Data collection | 第25-26页 |
| ·Methods of the analysis | 第26-29页 |
| ·Quantitative analysis | 第26-27页 |
| ·Qualitative analysis | 第27-29页 |
| 4. Pragmatic Analysis of Hedges in Advertising English | 第29-42页 |
| ·Semantic realization of hedges | 第29-33页 |
| ·Aproximators | 第29-31页 |
| ·Shields | 第31-33页 |
| ·Frequency of Hedges in advertising English | 第33-38页 |
| ·Frequency of Hedges in automobiles ads | 第33-35页 |
| ·Frequency of Hedges in watches ads | 第35-36页 |
| ·Frequency of Hedges in food & drinks ads | 第36-37页 |
| ·Frequency of Hedges in clothing ads | 第37-38页 |
| ·Frequency of Hedges in electronic products ads | 第38页 |
| ·Frequency of hedges in different types of advertising English | 第38-40页 |
| ·Semantic realization of hedges in advertising English | 第40-42页 |
| 5. Findings and Discussion | 第42-49页 |
| ·Interpretation of hedges | 第42-45页 |
| ·Adaptation to social conventions | 第42-43页 |
| ·Adaptation to psychological motivations | 第43-45页 |
| ·Pragmatic functions of hedges in advertising English | 第45-49页 |
| ·Appealing to consumers | 第45页 |
| ·Making the language more persuasive | 第45-46页 |
| ·Avoiding absolutization | 第46-47页 |
| ·Promoting objectivity and credibility | 第47页 |
| ·Saving face and achieving politeness | 第47-49页 |
| 6. Conclusion | 第49-51页 |
| ·Major findings | 第49-50页 |
| ·Limitations of the present research | 第50页 |
| ·Implications | 第50-51页 |
| Bibliography | 第51-53页 |
| Appendix: 100 English Advertisements | 第53-69页 |
| 攻读学位期间发表的学术论文 | 第69页 |
