CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABSTRACT

摘要

Chapter One  INTRODUCTION-1

  1.1 Background of the Study.1

  1.2 Purpose of the  Study.1

Chapter Two  LITERATURE REVIEW-2

  2.1 Definition of Hedges-2

  2.2 Classification of Hedges-2

 2.2.1 Semantic classification of hedges2

 2.2.2 Grammatical classification of hedges3

 2.2.3 Pragmatic classification of hedges.3

2.3 Relevant Studies at Home and Abroad-3

2.3.1 Study of vague language and hedges abroad-4

2.3.2 Study of vague language and hedges in China-4

Chapter Three  RESEARCH METHODOLOGY-5

3.1 Research Materials-5

3.2 Research Questions-5

Chapter Four  RESULTS AND DISCUSSION-6

4.1 Overall Frequency of Hedges Used in Each Corpus-6

4.2 Comparison of Sub-categories in Both Corpora-7

4.2.1 Comparison of approximators and shields in both corpora7

4.2.2 Comparison of four sub-categories of hedges in both corpora.8

4.3 Phenomenon Analysis of Similarities and Differences of Hedges in Both

Corpora-.10

4.4 Pragmatic Functions of the Use of hedges in News-.11

Chapter Five  CONCLUSION-12

5.1 Major Findings12

 5.2 Implications of the Present Research.13

 5.3 Limitations of the Present Research14

REFRENCES-16