| 摘要 | 第6-8页 |
| Abstract | 第8-9页 |
| Chapter 1 Introduction | 第12-20页 |
| 1.1 Previous Studies on Euphemism in Political Texts | 第12-16页 |
| 1.2 Research Purpose and Significance | 第16-17页 |
| 1.3 Methodology and Data Collection | 第17-18页 |
| 1.4 Structure of the Thesis | 第18-20页 |
| Chapter 2 Verschueren's Adaptation Theory | 第20-28页 |
| 2.1 An Overview of Verschueren's Adaptation Theory | 第20-24页 |
| 2.1.1 The Process of Language Use:Making Choices | 第21-22页 |
| 2.1.2 Properties of Language:Variability, Negotiability, Adaptability | 第22-23页 |
| 2.1.3 Four Respects of Adaptability | 第23-24页 |
| 2.2 Contextual Adaptation as One Respect of Adaptability | 第24-28页 |
| 2.2.1 Adaptation to the Mental World | 第26页 |
| 2.2.2 Adaptation to the Social World | 第26-27页 |
| 2.2.3 Adaptation to the Physical World | 第27-28页 |
| Chapter 3 Description of Euphemisms in Obama's Speeches | 第28-34页 |
| 3.1 Euphemism Realized at the Lexical Level | 第28-29页 |
| 3.1.1 Abstraction | 第28-29页 |
| 3.1.2 Vagueness | 第29页 |
| 3.2 Euphemism Realized at the rhetorical level | 第29-31页 |
| 3.2.1 Metaphor | 第29-30页 |
| 3.2.2 Understatement | 第30-31页 |
| 3.2.3 Substitution | 第31页 |
| 3.2.4 Circumlocution | 第31页 |
| 3.3 Euphemism Realized at the grammatical level:Negation | 第31-34页 |
| Chapter 4 Contextual Adaptation of Euphemisms in Obama's Speeches | 第34-53页 |
| 4.1 Euphemism as Adaptation to Different Intentions of the Mental World | 第34-45页 |
| 4.1.1 Avoiding Unpleasantness and Taboo | 第35-38页 |
| 4.1.2 Avoiding Harming or Hurting Others and Being Polite | 第38-41页 |
| 4.1.3 Covering up Truth and Winning People's Support | 第41-45页 |
| 4.2 Euphemism as Adaptation to Different Cultural Phenomena of the Social World | 第45-49页 |
| 4.2.1 Adaptation to Social Convention | 第45-46页 |
| 4.2.2 Adaptation to Value Assumptions | 第46-47页 |
| 4.2.3 Adaptation to Religious Beliefs | 第47-49页 |
| 4.3 Euphemism as Adaptation to the Element of Time in the Physical World | 第49-53页 |
| 4.3.1 Language as Social Organism | 第49-50页 |
| 4.3.2 Diachronic Changes of Euphemism | 第50-53页 |
| Chapter 5 Conclusion | 第53-56页 |
| 5.1 Major Findings of the Study | 第53-54页 |
| 5.2 Limitations and Suggestions | 第54-56页 |
| Bibliography | 第56-59页 |
| Acknowledgements | 第59-60页 |
| Appendix: 129 Items of Euphemistic Expressions (underlined) selected from Obama's 35 speeches | 第60-75页 |
| Published Paper While Registered with the MA Program | 第75页 |
