| Acknowledgments | 第1-9页 |
| Abstract | 第9-11页 |
| 摘要 | 第11-12页 |
| 前言 | 第12-15页 |
| Chapter 1 Introduction | 第15-18页 |
| ·The aim of this research | 第15-16页 |
| ·Data selection and methodology | 第16页 |
| ·Organization of the thesis | 第16-18页 |
| Chapter 2 Reviewing Studies on Hedges | 第18-35页 |
| ·Definitions of hedges | 第18-20页 |
| ·Factors causing the vagueness of language | 第20-22页 |
| ·Classifications of hedges | 第22-25页 |
| ·Grammatical classification of hedges | 第22-23页 |
| ·Semantic classification of hedges | 第23页 |
| ·Pragmatic classification of hedges | 第23-25页 |
| ·Semantic features of hedges | 第25-29页 |
| ·Cancellability | 第26-27页 |
| ·Markedness | 第27页 |
| ·Indefiniteness | 第27-28页 |
| ·Indirectness | 第28-29页 |
| ·Studies of hedges abroad | 第29-32页 |
| ·Studies of hedges at home | 第32-34页 |
| ·Concluding remarks | 第34-35页 |
| Chapter 3 Hedges in Economic News | 第35-46页 |
| ·Studies on economic news | 第35-39页 |
| ·Definition of news | 第35页 |
| ·Characteristics of news | 第35-36页 |
| ·Categories of news | 第36页 |
| ·Definition of economic news | 第36-37页 |
| ·Language features of economic news | 第37-39页 |
| ·Hedges in economic news | 第39-45页 |
| ·Presence of hedges in news | 第39-40页 |
| ·Inevitability of the presence of hedges in economic news | 第40-45页 |
| ·Lacking information | 第40-41页 |
| ·Needing no specific information | 第41-42页 |
| ·To avoid absoluteness and arbitrariness | 第42页 |
| ·To be objective | 第42-43页 |
| ·To be timely | 第43-44页 |
| ·To be brief | 第44页 |
| ·To add vividness and liveliness | 第44-45页 |
| ·Concluding remarks | 第45-46页 |
| Chapter 4 Pragmatic Analysis of Hedges in Economic News | 第46-59页 |
| ·A sketch of theoretical background | 第46-51页 |
| ·Cooperative Principle | 第46-47页 |
| ·Relevance Theory | 第47-48页 |
| ·Politeness Theory | 第48-50页 |
| ·Speech Act Theory | 第50-51页 |
| ·Cooperative Principle and hedges in economic news | 第51-54页 |
| ·Violation of the maxim of quantity | 第51-52页 |
| ·Violation of the maxim of quality | 第52-53页 |
| ·Violation of the maxim of relation | 第53-54页 |
| ·Violation of the maxim of manner | 第54页 |
| ·Relevance Theory and hedges in economic news | 第54-56页 |
| ·Politeness Theory and hedges in economic news | 第56-57页 |
| ·Speech Act Theory and hedges in economic news | 第57-58页 |
| ·Concluding remarks | 第58-59页 |
| Chapter 5 Pragmatic Functions of Hedges in Economic News | 第59-65页 |
| ·Positive functions of hedges in economic news | 第59-64页 |
| ·Increasing credibility | 第59-61页 |
| ·Avoiding giving details | 第61页 |
| ·Enhancing self-protecting | 第61-62页 |
| ·Achieving politeness | 第62-63页 |
| ·Creating persuasive effect | 第63-64页 |
| ·Negative functions of hedges in economic news | 第64页 |
| ·Concluding remarks | 第64-65页 |
| Chapter 6 Conclusion | 第65-67页 |
| ·Major findings | 第65-66页 |
| ·Limitations and suggestions for further studies | 第66-67页 |
| Bibliography | 第67-70页 |
