序               
chapter lintroduction   
 1 .0  a general introduction     
 1.1  the rationale of the present study   4
 1.2  problems with previous studies   
 1.3  the object of the present study       
 1.4  a description of the data    
 1.5  0utline of the thesis   
chapter 2literature review  
2.0  introduction                         
2.1  terminological issue   
2.2  approaches to mitigation"…，  
 2.2.1  the sociolinguistic approach  
 2.2.2  the cross cultural/lnterlanguage pragmatic approach  
 2.2.3  the pragmatic approach 
 2.2.3.1  the pragmalinguistic trend 
 2.2.3.2  the semanticopragmatic trend 
 2.2.3.3  the sociopragmatic trend 
 2.2.3.4  the psychopragmatic trend 
2.3 achievements 
chapter 3the conceptual framework 
3.0 introduction    
3.1 definitions of mitigation   
 3.1.1  previous definitions revisited 
 3.1.2a working definition of mitigation 
3.2 delimitation of mitigation 
 3.2.1mitigation and indirectness 
 3.2.2mitigation and politeness/facework 
3.3 theoretical background 
 3.3.1 linguistic adaptation              
 3.3.2empathy 
3.4 characterization of the conceptual framework
 3.4.1mitigating strategies 
 3.4.2 contextual constraints on mitigation   
 3.4.3mitigating functions 
 3.4.4adaptation, empathy and mitigation      
chapter 4mitigating strategies    
4.1propositional mitigation   
 4.1.2  evidentials   
 4.1.3 tag questions
 4.1.4epistemic modals  
 4.1.5subjectivizers 
4.2 illocutionary mitigation          
 4.2.1disclaimers  
 4.2.1.1intention disclaimers  
 4.2.1.2 entitlement disclaimers  
 4.2.1.3 knowledge disclaimers  102
4.2.3  truth claimers  
4.3  perlocutionary mitigation     
 4.3. 1 simple anticipation     12
 4.3.2  concern showing 
 4.3.3  penalty taking 
 4.3.4  direct dissuasion
chapter 5contextual constraints on mitigation     
5.0  introduction 
5.1 mitigation as empathic adaptation to power       
 5.1.2  empathic adaptation to power: an analysis   
5.2  mitigation as empathic adaptation to negative emotions  
 5.2.1 negative emotions 
 5.2.2 empathic adaptation to negative emotions: an analysis
5.3 mitigation as empathic adaptation to controversies                  
 5.3.1  controversies    
 5.3.2  empathic adaptation to controversies: an analysis 
5.4 mitigation as empathic adaptation to taboo topics             
 5.4.2 empathic adaptation to taboo topics: an analysis   
5.5 mitigation as empathic adaptation to social values         
 5.5. 1  social values 
 5.5.2  empathic adaptation to social values: an analysis"""'. 154chapter 6mitigating functions 
6. 1  interpersonal functions  1
 6.1.1  image management 
 6. 1 .2  pacifications  1
 6.1.3  solidarity building 
6.2  communicative functions 
  6.2. 1  elaboration invitation        1
  6.2. 1 .2  comment invitation  1
  6.2. 1 .3  commitment invitation  1
  6.2. 1 .4  negation invitation  1
 6.2.2  floor manipulations 
  6.2.2.  floor keeping    
  6.2.2.3  floor termination  1
 6.2.3  persuasions  
  6.2.3.1  compliance enhancement 
  6.2.3.2  credibility enhancement 
chapter 7  conclusion    
7.0  introduction  2 1
7.1   major findings
 7.1.1 mitigating strategies 
 7.1.2  contextual constraints on mitigation 
 7.1.3  mitigating functions 
 7.1.4  general findings 
 7. 1 .5  empathic adaptation and mitigation2 1 97.2implications    
7.3  limitations of the present study 
7.4  suggestions for future research  
bibliography 
acknowledgements