| Abstract | 第2-4页 |
| 摘要 | 第5-10页 |
| Chapter Ⅰ Introduction | 第10-15页 |
| 1.1 Background of Study | 第10-11页 |
| 1.2 Significance of Study | 第11-12页 |
| 1.3 Methodology | 第12-13页 |
| 1.4 Structure of the Thesis | 第13-15页 |
| Chapter Ⅱ Literature Review | 第15-26页 |
| 2.1 Hedges | 第15-22页 |
| 2.1.1 Definitions of Hedges | 第15-16页 |
| 2.1.2 Classifications of Hedges | 第16-19页 |
| 2.1.3 Features of Hedges | 第19-22页 |
| 2.2 Previous Studies of Hedges | 第22-26页 |
| 2.2.1 Previous Studies of Hedges Abroad | 第22-24页 |
| 2.2.2 Previous Studies of Hedges at Home | 第24-26页 |
| Chapter Ⅲ Theoretical Framework of the Research | 第26-36页 |
| 3.1 Verschueren's Linguistic Adaptation Theory | 第26-34页 |
| 3.1.1 Choice-making | 第27-28页 |
| 3.1.2 Three Properties of Language | 第28-29页 |
| 3.1.3 Four Angles of Pragmatic Investigation | 第29-34页 |
| 3.2 Relationship between Hedges and Adaptation Theory | 第34-36页 |
| Chapter Ⅳ Analysis of Hedges in the White House's Press Briefings under Adaptation Theory | 第36-80页 |
| 4.1 Diplomatic Language | 第37-39页 |
| 4.2 Spokesperson and Language of the White House's Press Briefings | 第39-41页 |
| 4.3 Structural Adaptation of Hedges in the White House's Press Briefings | 第41-57页 |
| 4.3.1 Adaptation at the Lexical Level | 第41-51页 |
| 4.3.2 Adaptation at the Syntactic Level | 第51-56页 |
| 4.3.3 Summary | 第56-57页 |
| 4.4 Contextual Adaptation of Hedges in the White House's Press Briefings | 第57-73页 |
| 4.4.1 Adaptation to the Mental World | 第57-65页 |
| 4.4.2 Adaptation to the Social World | 第65-69页 |
| 4.4.3 Adaptation to the Physical World | 第69-72页 |
| 4.4.4 Summary | 第72-73页 |
| 4.5 Pragmatic Functions of Hedges in the White House's Press Briefings | 第73-80页 |
| 4.5.1 Achieving the Self-protection of the Speakers | 第73-75页 |
| 4.5.2 Improving the Vagueness of Language | 第75-76页 |
| 4.5.3 Enhancing the Objectivity of Language | 第76-78页 |
| 4.5.4 Strengthening the Credibility of Language | 第78-79页 |
| 4.5.5 Summary | 第79-80页 |
| Chapter V Conclusion | 第80-83页 |
| 5.1 Major Findings of the Study | 第80-81页 |
| 5.2 Implications of the Study | 第81页 |
| 5.3 Limitations of the Study and Suggestions for Future Research | 第81-83页 |
| Appendix | 第83-86页 |
| References | 第86-90页 |
| Acknowledgements | 第90-91页 |
