| Acknowledgements | 第1-6页 |
| Abstract | 第6-8页 |
| 摘要 | 第8-12页 |
| Chapter Ⅰ:Introduction | 第12-14页 |
| ·Background | 第12页 |
| ·Purpose of the Study | 第12-13页 |
| ·Organization of the Thesis | 第13-14页 |
| Chapter Ⅱ:Literature Review | 第14-22页 |
| ·Previous Study of Vagueness | 第14-15页 |
| ·Previous Study of Hedges | 第15-21页 |
| ·Definition of Hedge | 第15-16页 |
| ·Studies from Different Perspectives | 第16-21页 |
| ·Summary | 第21-22页 |
| Chapter Ⅲ Theoretical Foundations | 第22-30页 |
| ·Cooperative Principle | 第22-23页 |
| ·Politeness Principle and New Concept of Politeness Principle | 第23-25页 |
| ·Verschueren's Linguistic Adaptation Theory | 第25-30页 |
| ·Proposed Framework of Hedges in English News | 第26-30页 |
| Chapter Ⅳ:Adaptability of Hedging in English News | 第30-40页 |
| ·Hedges' Semantic Features | 第30-32页 |
| ·Cancellability | 第30页 |
| ·Markedness | 第30-31页 |
| ·Indefiniteness | 第31页 |
| ·Indirectness | 第31-32页 |
| ·Adaptability of Hedging in English News | 第32-40页 |
| ·Features of News | 第32-33页 |
| ·Feasibility of Hedging in English News | 第33页 |
| ·Hedging as Adaptation to the Physical World | 第33-38页 |
| ·Hedging as Adaptation to the Mental World | 第38-40页 |
| Chapter Ⅴ:Functions of Hedges in English News | 第40-52页 |
| ·Realization of Features of English News | 第40-45页 |
| ·Ensuring News' Objectiveness | 第40-42页 |
| ·Elevating News' Efficiency | 第42-43页 |
| ·Heightening News' Flexibility | 第43页 |
| ·Increasing News' Acceptability | 第43-45页 |
| ·Harmonization of the Interpersonal Relationships in English News | 第45-52页 |
| ·Involved Parties' Interrelationships in English News | 第45-47页 |
| ·As Face-Saving and Self-Protection Strategy for the writer | 第47-48页 |
| ·As Appealing-Strategy to the Reader | 第48-49页 |
| ·As Safeguard Strategy for the Third Party's Interests | 第49-52页 |
| Chapter Ⅵ:Conclusion | 第52-54页 |
| ·Summary of the Study | 第52页 |
| ·Implications | 第52-53页 |
| ·Limitations | 第53-54页 |
| Bibliography | 第54-55页 |
