| Acknowledgements | 第1-5页 |
| 摘要 | 第5-7页 |
| Abstract | 第7-9页 |
| Table of Contents | 第9-12页 |
| List of Tables and Chart | 第12-13页 |
| List of Abbreviations | 第13-14页 |
| Chapter One Introduction | 第14-18页 |
| ·Research background | 第14-15页 |
| ·Research significance | 第15页 |
| ·Research objectives | 第15-16页 |
| ·Organization of the thesis | 第16-18页 |
| Chapter Two Literature Review | 第18-32页 |
| ·Definitions of the related terms | 第18-20页 |
| ·Definitions of hedges / hedging | 第18-19页 |
| ·Definition of political interviews | 第19-20页 |
| ·Factors causing the vagueness of language | 第20-21页 |
| ·The semantic features of hedges | 第21-24页 |
| ·Cancellability | 第21-22页 |
| ·Markedness | 第22页 |
| ·Indefiniteness | 第22-23页 |
| ·Indirectness | 第23-24页 |
| ·Studies of hedges at home and abroad | 第24-26页 |
| ·Studies of hedges at home | 第24-25页 |
| ·Studies of hedges abroad | 第25-26页 |
| ·The occurrence of hedges in EPI | 第26-28页 |
| ·The pragmatic theories related to the present study | 第28-31页 |
| ·Cooperative Principle | 第28-29页 |
| ·Politeness Principle | 第29-30页 |
| ·Face-saving Theory | 第30-31页 |
| ·Summary | 第31-32页 |
| Chapter Three Research Design | 第32-36页 |
| ·Research questions | 第32页 |
| ·Data collection | 第32页 |
| ·Research methodology and procedures | 第32-33页 |
| ·The criteria of hedges for this research | 第33-35页 |
| ·Working definition of hedges | 第33页 |
| ·Working classification of hedges | 第33-35页 |
| ·Summary | 第35-36页 |
| Chapter Four Results Presentation and Discussion | 第36-58页 |
| ·Identification and frequencies of occurrence of hedges in EPI | 第36-38页 |
| ·Classification of hedges in EPI | 第38-43页 |
| ·Approximators in EPI | 第38-39页 |
| ·Shields in EPI | 第39-41页 |
| ·The general distribution of different types of hedges in EPI | 第41-43页 |
| ·The pragmatic analysis of hedges in EPI | 第43-50页 |
| ·Cooperative Principle and hedges in EPI | 第43-47页 |
| ·Politeness Principle and hedges in EPI | 第47-48页 |
| ·Face-saving Theory and hedges in EPI | 第48-50页 |
| ·Pragmatic functions of hedges in EPI | 第50-56页 |
| ·Enhancing credibility | 第50-51页 |
| ·Strengthening self-protection | 第51-52页 |
| ·Shifting or weakening responsibility | 第52-53页 |
| ·Avoiding giving details | 第53-54页 |
| ·Showing politeness | 第54页 |
| ·Achieving persuasive effect | 第54-56页 |
| ·Summary | 第56-58页 |
| Chapter Five Conclusion | 第58-62页 |
| ·Summary of the major findings | 第58-59页 |
| ·Implications of the present research | 第59页 |
| ·Limitations of the present research | 第59-60页 |
| ·Summary | 第60-62页 |
| Bibliography | 第62-65页 |
| Appendix Ⅰ | 第65-66页 |
| Appendix Ⅱ | 第66-69页 |
| 攻读学位期间发表的学术论文目录 | 第69-70页 |
