| Acknowledgement | 第1-4页 |
| Abstract | 第4-6页 |
| 摘要 | 第6-8页 |
| Table of Contents | 第8-11页 |
| Chapter One Introduction | 第11-16页 |
| ·Present situation of hedge learning | 第12页 |
| ·Significance of the research | 第12-13页 |
| ·Purpose of the research | 第13-14页 |
| ·Data collection and methodology | 第14页 |
| ·Layout of the thesis | 第14-16页 |
| Chapter Two Literature review | 第16-20页 |
| Chapter Three Hedges | 第20-36页 |
| ·Definitions of hedges | 第20-21页 |
| ·Categorization of hedges | 第21-26页 |
| ·Semantic categorization | 第21-22页 |
| ·Grammatical categorization | 第22-23页 |
| ·Prince et al’s categorization | 第23-26页 |
| ·Approximators | 第24-25页 |
| ·Shields | 第25-26页 |
| ·Semantic features of hedges | 第26-30页 |
| ·Cancellability | 第26-27页 |
| ·Indefiniteness | 第27-28页 |
| ·Indirectness | 第28-29页 |
| ·Markedness | 第29-30页 |
| ·Factors causing the vagueness of hedges | 第30-36页 |
| ·The cognitive aspect | 第30-32页 |
| ·The language acquisition aspect | 第32页 |
| ·Context-dependence | 第32-33页 |
| ·Other factors | 第33-36页 |
| Chapter Four An analysis of the current situation of hedge learning | 第36-60页 |
| ·Revelations learned from the questionnaire | 第36-37页 |
| ·Learning inefficiency with regard to hedge learning | 第37-40页 |
| ·Writing inefficiency | 第38-39页 |
| ·Speaking inefficiency | 第39-40页 |
| ·Reading inefficiency | 第40页 |
| ·Possible factors affecting L2 learners’hedge learning | 第40-48页 |
| ·The complexity of hedging | 第41页 |
| ·Lack or wrong guidance of materials | 第41-42页 |
| ·Inadequate input about the functions of hedges | 第42-47页 |
| ·Giving the right amount of information | 第43-44页 |
| ·Filling lexical gaps | 第44-45页 |
| ·Withholding information deliberately | 第45-46页 |
| ·Hedging as a politeness strategy | 第46-47页 |
| ·Cultural differences between English and Chinese | 第47-48页 |
| ·Pedagogical implication of teaching hedges | 第48-60页 |
| ·Theoretical basis for the acquisition | 第48-49页 |
| ·Possible suggestions | 第49-60页 |
| ·Raising awareness of hedging in classroom | 第50-51页 |
| ·Practice based on text fragments | 第51-52页 |
| ·Sticking to concordance materials | 第52-53页 |
| ·Focusing on high frequency items | 第53-54页 |
| ·Treating students’errors properly | 第54-55页 |
| ·Exchanging roles | 第55-56页 |
| ·Teaching hedges with reference to Chinese | 第56-57页 |
| ·Acquisition of second culture | 第57-60页 |
| Chapter Five Conclusions and limitations | 第60-63页 |
| ·Conclusions | 第60-62页 |
| ·Limitations | 第62-63页 |
| Bibliography | 第63-68页 |
| Appendix: Investigation into L2 learners’hedge learning | 第68-69页 |
| Publication | 第69-70页 |
