| Acknowledgements | 第1-5页 |
| Abstract | 第5-7页 |
| 摘要 | 第7-9页 |
| List of tables and figures | 第9-10页 |
| Table of contents | 第10-13页 |
| Chapter One Introduction | 第13-20页 |
| ·General background | 第13-15页 |
| ·What is hedging/hedges? | 第13-14页 |
| ·The importance of academic book review | 第14-15页 |
| ·Research orientation | 第15页 |
| ·Rationale of the study | 第15-16页 |
| ·Significance of the study | 第16-17页 |
| ·Methodology and data collection | 第17-18页 |
| ·Research questions of the study | 第18页 |
| ·Organization of the study | 第18-20页 |
| Chapter Two Review of related studies | 第20-29页 |
| ·Introduction | 第20页 |
| ·Previous researches on hedging/hedges | 第20-27页 |
| ·Delimitation of hedging and hedges | 第20-22页 |
| ·Taxonomy of hedging/hedges | 第22-23页 |
| ·Semantic approach to hedging/hedges | 第23-25页 |
| ·Pragmatic approach to hedging/hedges | 第25-26页 |
| ·Textual approach to hedging/hedges | 第26-27页 |
| ·Hedging's interface with some other areas | 第27页 |
| ·Previous studies on book reviews | 第27-28页 |
| ·Critical evaluation | 第28-29页 |
| Chapter Three Theoretical framework | 第29-41页 |
| ·Introduction | 第29页 |
| ·Analytical taxonomy for hedging | 第29-34页 |
| ·Working definition of hedging | 第29-30页 |
| ·Hyland's taxonomy of hedging | 第30-31页 |
| ·Working taxonomy for hedging in present study | 第31-32页 |
| ·Criterion for identification | 第32-34页 |
| ·A condensed description of Adaptation Theory | 第34-37页 |
| ·Hedging as a result of linguistic choices | 第37-38页 |
| ·Hedging as the realization of adaptation | 第38-39页 |
| ·Analytical framework for present study | 第39-41页 |
| Chapter Four Characteristics of hedging in Chinese and English book reviews | 第41-54页 |
| ·Introduction | 第41页 |
| ·Linguistic realizations of hedging in CABRs and EABRs | 第41-50页 |
| ·Accuracy-oriented hedge | 第41-47页 |
| ·Attribute accuracy-oriented hedges | 第42-45页 |
| ·Reliability accuracy-oriented hedges | 第45-47页 |
| ·Reviewer-oriented hedges | 第47-48页 |
| ·Reader-oriented hedges | 第48-50页 |
| ·Reviewee-oriented hedges | 第50页 |
| ·Distribution of hedges in CABRs and EABRs | 第50-54页 |
| ·Frequency and distribution of hedges in CABRs | 第51-52页 |
| ·Frequency and distribution of hedges in EABRs | 第52-54页 |
| Chapter Five Comparative study of hedging between CABRs and EABRs | 第54-64页 |
| ·Comparison of using hedges between CABRs and EABRs | 第54-57页 |
| ·Frequencies of hedges in CABRs and EABRs | 第54-55页 |
| ·Similarities and differences between CABRs and EABRs | 第55-57页 |
| ·Similarities in the use of hedges between CABRs and EABRs | 第56页 |
| ·Differences in the use of hedges between CABRs and EABRs | 第56-57页 |
| ·Possible explanations for the similarities and differences | 第57-62页 |
| ·Similarities triggered by adaptation to communicative goals | 第57页 |
| ·Similarities triggered by adaptation to politeness | 第57-58页 |
| ·Differences triggered by adaptation to social world | 第58-61页 |
| ·Value | 第59-60页 |
| ·Interpersonal relationship | 第60-61页 |
| ·Research environment | 第61页 |
| ·Differences triggered by adaptation to the mental world | 第61-62页 |
| ·Summary | 第62-64页 |
| Chapter Six Conclusion | 第64-68页 |
| ·Major findings | 第64-65页 |
| ·Implications | 第65-66页 |
| ·Limitations and suggestions | 第66-68页 |
| References | 第68-73页 |
| Appendix 1: sources of English data | 第73-76页 |
| Appendix 2: sources of Chinese data | 第76-78页 |
