| 内容提要 | 第1-5页 |
| Synopsis | 第5-7页 |
| 摘要 | 第7-10页 |
| Abstract | 第10-17页 |
| Chapter One Introduction | 第17-21页 |
| ·Background of the Research | 第17-18页 |
| ·Purposes and Significance of the Research | 第18-19页 |
| ·Layout of the Thesis | 第19-21页 |
| Chapter Two Literature Review | 第21-40页 |
| ·An Overview of Hedges | 第21-24页 |
| ·Vagueness | 第21-23页 |
| ·Definition of Hedges | 第23-24页 |
| ·Classifications and Features of Hedges | 第24-32页 |
| ·Classifications of Hedges | 第24-29页 |
| ·Features of Hedges | 第29-32页 |
| ·Previous Researches on Hedges | 第32-35页 |
| ·Studies Abroad | 第32-34页 |
| ·Studies at Home | 第34-35页 |
| ·Political Speech and Presidential Debate | 第35-40页 |
| ·Definition and Features of Political Speech | 第36-37页 |
| ·U.S. Presidential Debates | 第37-38页 |
| ·Format and Purpose of U.S. Presidential Debates | 第38-40页 |
| Chapter Three Theoretical Framework | 第40-51页 |
| ·Introduction to the Adaptation Theory | 第40-43页 |
| ·The Background of the Adaptation Theory | 第40-41页 |
| ·The Definition of Adaptation Theory | 第41-43页 |
| ·Three Properties of Language | 第43-44页 |
| ·Variability | 第43页 |
| ·Negotiability | 第43-44页 |
| ·Adaptability | 第44页 |
| ·Four Angles of Investigation | 第44-48页 |
| ·Contextual Correlates of Adaptability | 第44-45页 |
| ·Structural Objects of Adaptability | 第45-46页 |
| ·Dynamics of Adaptability | 第46-47页 |
| ·Salience of Adaptation | 第47-48页 |
| ·The Study of Hedges based on Adaptation Theory | 第48-51页 |
| Chapter Four Research Methodology | 第51-55页 |
| ·Research Questions | 第51页 |
| ·Data Collection | 第51-54页 |
| ·Research Methods and Procedure | 第54-55页 |
| Chapter Five Quantitative Analysis of Hedges in the Debates | 第55-61页 |
| ·A General Description of the Data | 第55-58页 |
| ·Similarities and Differences in Hedge Uses between Obama and Romney | 第58-61页 |
| Chapter Six An Adaptative Analysis of Hedges Used in Obama and Romney’s Debate | 第61-82页 |
| ·Adaptation to Speaker’s Mental World | 第61-71页 |
| ·Using Plausibility Shields to Protect speakers | 第62-65页 |
| ·Using Attribution Shields to Keep Speakers’ Expression Objective | 第65-68页 |
| ·Using Approximators to Keep Speakers’ Expression Accurate | 第68-71页 |
| ·Adaptation to Hearer’s Mental World | 第71-74页 |
| ·Adaptation to the Social World | 第74-78页 |
| ·Adaptation to Occupation and Power | 第74-77页 |
| ·Adaptation to Social Culture | 第77-78页 |
| ·Adaptation to the Physical World | 第78-82页 |
| ·Adaptation to Time | 第79-80页 |
| ·Adaptation to Space | 第80-82页 |
| Chapter Seven Conclusion | 第82-86页 |
| ·Major Findings | 第82-84页 |
| ·Implications of the Research | 第84页 |
| ·Limitations of the Research | 第84页 |
| ·Suggestions for Future Research | 第84-86页 |
| Bibliography | 第86-89页 |
| Appendix | 第89-98页 |
| Acknowledgments | 第98页 |
