The Interpersonal Meaning of Hedges

Yunqian Li

Abstract


Hedges as a considerable fascinated language phenomena and pragmatic strategy, objectively and widely existed in every aspect of human life. Most researches on hedges focus on its communicative functions. Since the complementarity between systemic-functional linguistics and pragmatics received rare attention, this thesis attempts to find relationships between systemic-functional linguistics and pragmatics. Specifically, this thesis aims at exploring the graduation system of hedges from the perspective of appraisal system. This thesis examines the approximators under the graduation system and shields under engagement system. The analysis shows that different kinds of hedges assume different interpersonal meanings and that the interpersonal function presents rare difference in the Chinese and English courtroom discourse. 


Keywords


Hedges; Engagement system; Graduation system; Interpersonal meanings

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References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3968/11944

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