Chapter One Introduction 1.1 Rationale of the Study 1.2 Objectives of the Study 1.3 Methodology 1.3.1 Evaluative Utterances vs. Evaluation 1.3.2 Data Collection 1.4 Outline of the Book Chapter Two Literature Review 2.1 Previous Research on Evaluative Meaning 2.2 Studies Related to Evaluative Utterances 2.2.1 Conversation Analysis 2.2.2 Functions of Evaluative Utterances 2.2.3 Strategies for Evaluative Acts 2.3 The Scope of Negative Evaluative Acts 2.3.1 Felicity Conditions for Negative Evaluative Acts 2.3.2 The Range of Negative Evaluative Acts Chapter Three Theoretical Framework 3.1 Speech Act and Context 3.1.1 The Nature of Context 3.1.2 Three Dimensions of Context 3.2 Speech Act and Strategy 3.2.1 The Notion of Face 3.2.2 Theories of Politeness 3.2.3 Impoliteness Studies 3.3 Stance and Stance-taking 3.3.1 Defining Stance and Stance-taking 3.3.2 The Stance Triangle Chapter Four Understanding General Features of Negative Evaluative Utterances 4.1 Types of Negative Evaluative Utterances 4.1.1 Self-oriented vs. Other-oriented Negative Evaluative Utterances 4.1.2 Genuine vs. Mock Negative Evaluative Utterances 4.1.3 Direct vs. Indirect Negative Evaluative Utterances 4.2 Premises of Negative Evaluation 4.2.1 Physical Appearance 4.2.2 Performance 4.2.3 Behaviors 4.2.4 Words or Comments 4.2.5 An Entity or a State 4.3 Criteria of Evaluation 4.3.1 Personal Preference 4.3.2 Social Standard 4.3.3 Cultural Standard 4.4 Degrees of Intensity 4.4.1 Realizations of Different Intensity Degrees 4.4.2 Variables of Intensity Degrees 4.5 Hearers' Participation 4.5.1 Acceptance 4.5.2 Resistance 4.5.3 Asking for Details 4.6 Functions of Negative Evaluative Utterances 4.6.1 Purging the Speaker's Negative Attitude 4.6.2 Influencing the Hearer 4.6.3 Building Solidarity 4.6.4 Gaining Power Chapter Five Principles and Strategies Concerning Negative Evaluative Utterances in American Political Discourse 5.1 Negative Evaluative Utterances in American Political Campaigns 5.1.1 The Context of American Political Campaigns 5.1.2 Features of Negative Evaluative Utterances in American Political Campaigns 5.2 Principles for Negative Evaluative Utterances 5.2.1 Being Well-grounded 5.2.2 Being Superficially Objective 5.2.3 Being Morally Justified 5.2.4 Being Constructive 5.3 Strategy Types of Negative Evaluative Acts 5.3.1 Explicit Expression of Negative Attitude 5.3.2 Identifying the Problem 5.3.3 Presenting Facts and Data 5.3.4 Predicting a Bleak Future 5.3.5 Listing Criteria of Evaluation 5.3.6 Asking for Change 5.3.7 Making a Comparison 5.4 Negative Evaluative Act Modifications 5.4.1 Internal Modifications 5.4.2 External Modifications 5.5 Rhetorical Devices in Negative Evaluative Utterances 5.5.1 Metaphor 5.5.2 Allusion 5.5.3 Rhetorical Questions 5.5.4 Mockery 5.6 Stance-taking as a Strategy in Negative Evaluative Utterances 5.6.1 Identifying the Three Nodes 5.6.2 Self-positioning by Distancing from One's Rivals 5.6.3 Self-positioning by Aligning with the Audience ~ Chapter Six Conclusion 6.1 Major Findings of the Study 6.2 Implications of the Study 6.3 Limitations of the Study 6.4 Suggestions for Future Research APPENDIX BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX