| Acknowledgements | 第5-6页 |
| 摘要 | 第6-7页 |
| abstract | 第7-8页 |
| Chapter One INTRODUCTION | 第11-17页 |
| 1.1 Research Background | 第11-12页 |
| 1.2 Objectives and Significance of the Research | 第12-13页 |
| 1.3 Methodology | 第13-15页 |
| 1.4 Organization of the Thesis | 第15-17页 |
| Chapter Two LITERATURE REVIEW | 第17-24页 |
| 2.1 Research on Hedges Abroad | 第17-20页 |
| 2.2 Research on Hedges at Home | 第20-21页 |
| 2.3 Previous Studies on American Presidential Debates | 第21-24页 |
| Chapter Three THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK | 第24-31页 |
| 3.1 Hedges | 第24-26页 |
| 3.2 The Contextual Correlates of Adaptability | 第26-31页 |
| 3.2.1 The Mental World | 第28页 |
| 3.2.2 The Social World | 第28-29页 |
| 3.2.3 The Physical World | 第29-31页 |
| Chapter Four HEDGES in the PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES from thePERSPECTIVE of CONTEXTUAL ADAPTATION | 第31-56页 |
| 4.1 Distribution and Frequencies of Various Hedges | 第31-35页 |
| 4.2 Hedges and Contextual Correlates of Adaptability | 第35-56页 |
| 4.2.1 Adaptation to the Mental World by the Employment of Hedges | 第36-46页 |
| 4.2.2 Adaptation to the Social World by the Employment of Hedges | 第46-52页 |
| 4.2.3 Adaptation to the Physical World by the Employment of Hedges | 第52-56页 |
| Chapter Five CONCLUSION | 第56-59页 |
| 5.1 Findings and Conclusion | 第56-57页 |
| 5.2 Implications | 第57-58页 |
| 5.3 Limitations and Suggestions for Further Study | 第58-59页 |
| References | 第59-61页 |
