ABSTRACT

People communicate with others to obtain new information, express their attitudes and share feelings to keep a harmonious relationship in verbal communication. When meeting tricky questions or private topics, and those could not be replied at once, at this moment, they will seek for certain strategies to facilitate their communication. Evasion, as a communicative strategy, is a preferable.

Based on Adaptation Theory, this paper analyzes evasive answers in nine pieces of political interviews and tries to explore their pragmatic functions. Interlocutors in these interviews satisfy their communicational needs with both overt and covert evasion strategies. Evasive answers in political interviews can help to withhold information and maintain a harmonious relationship

This study may shed some lights on the future study of evasive answers, and contribute to improve people’s communicational ability.

Key words: Evasive answers; political interviews; linguistic Adaptation Theory; pragmatic effects

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABSTRACT

摘要

Chapter One INTRODUCTION-1

Chapter Two LITERATURE REVIEW-3

2.1 Evasion-3

2.1.1 Definitions of evasion-3

2.1.2 Classifications of evasion-4

2.2 The Linguistic Adaptation Theory-5

2.2.1 Linguistic choice-making-5

2.2.2 Variability, negotiability and adaptability-5

2.3 Summary-6

Chapter Three METHODOLOGY-7

3.1 Research Questions-7

3.2 Data Collection and Analysis-8

Chapter Four EVSAIVE ANSWERS IN POLITICAL INTERVIEWS-9

4.1 Overt Evasion-9

4.1.1 Simple refusal-9

4.1.2 Explanatory refusal-10

4.2 Covert Evasion-11

4.2.1 Manipulating the reply-11

4.2.2 Manipulating the manner-13

Chapter Five PRAGMATIC EFFECTS OF EVSAIVE ANSWERS IN POLITICAL INTERVIEWS-14

5.1 Withholding Information-14

5.1.1 Concealing negative information-14

5.1.2 Avoiding showing one’s attitudes-15

5.2 Maintaining a Harmonious Relationship-15

5.2.1 Reaching agreements-15

5.2.2 Avoiding conflicts-16

Chapter Six CONCLUSION-17

6.1 Major Findings-17

6.2 Limitations of the Study-17

REFERENCES-18