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（ 2011 届）题 目 模糊限制语视角下的女性话语特征分析 学 院 外国语学院 专 业 英 语 班 级 英 语071 学 号 200736635122 学生姓名 夏菁菁 指导教师 周红 完成日期 2011.5.18 教 务 处 制 二o 一 一年 五 月 十 八 日Analysis of Characteristics of Female Utterance from the Prospective of HedgesA Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirement for the B.A. Degree in English Language and LiteratureByXia Jing-jingSupervisor: Zhou HongAcademic Title: ProfessorCollege of Foreign Languages Jiaxing University, Zhejiang Province, P.R.C.May 18, 2011诚 信 声 明我声明，所呈交的论文(设计)是本人在老师指导下进行的研究工作及取得的研究成果。据我查证，除了文中特别加以标注和致谢的地方外，论文(设计)中不包含其他人已经发表或撰写过的研究成果，也不包含为获得或其他教育机构的学位或证书而使用过的材料。我承诺，论文(设计)中的所有内容均真实、可信。论文(设计)作者签名： 签名日期： 年 月 日授 权 声 明学校有权保留送交论文（设计）的原件，允许论文（设计）被查阅和借阅，学校可以公布论文（设计）的全部或部分内容，可以影印、缩印或其他复制手段保存论文（设计），学校必须严格按照授权对论文(设计)进行处理，不得超越授权对论文（设计）进行任意处置。 论文(设计)作者签名： 签名日期： 年 月 日嘉兴学院本科生毕业论文（设计）摘要 作为模糊语言家族的一个组成部分，模糊限制语是其中最普遍、最典型的、最具研究价值的语言现象。研究表明，与男性相比，女性更倾向于高频率地使用模糊限制语，因此，模糊限制语已成为女性话语的一个重要特征。本文首先以2009年，2010年奥斯卡奖项以及2010年MTV这三场国际性影视颁奖典礼上女性获奖感言为语料，着重分析获奖感言中女性使用模糊限制语的原因：生理因素，心理因素，言语话题需要，工作性质，探究模糊限制语在女性话语中的语用功能，合理地使用模糊限制语可以使得会话更加精确，同时展示说话人的礼貌，保护自我，展示自我，使读者了解到模糊限制语在女性话语中发挥着不可忽视的意义。关键词：模糊限制语; 女性话语; 原因; 语用功能I 嘉兴学院本科生毕业论文（设计）AbstractAs a part of the fuzzy language, hedges are the most common, typical, and of most worthy researching in all of the language phenomena. It shows that female, compared with male, tend to make use of hedges frequently. Therefore, hedges have become a distinguishing feature in the female utterance. Based on the females speech on several award presentation ceremonies of international film and television circles, this thesis emphatically looks into the factors of hedges in the female utterance, namely physiological factor, psychological factor, the factor of utterance topic, and the factor of working environment, analyzes the pragmatic functions of hedges in the female utterance .The appropriate use of hedge in female utterance is able to achieve the relative precision of communication, show courtesy, protect herself and present herself, which makes readers aware of the hedges greater influence in the female utterance.Key Words: hedges; female utterance; factors; pragmatic functionsContents1. Introduction.12. Hedges.2 2.1 The Definition of Hedges2 2.2 The Classification of Hedges.2 2.3 The Structure of Hedges.33. Analysis of Material .44. The Factors for Hedges Used Frequently in Female Utterance.5 4.1 Physiological Factor.6 4.2 Psychological Factor.6 4.3 The Factor of Utterance Topic .7 4.4 The Factor of Working Environment85. The Pragmatic Functions of Hedges.9 5.1 The Relative Precision of Communication.9 5.2 Showing Courtesy.10 5.3 Self-protection & Self-presenting.116. Conclusion.12Bibliography.13Acknowledgements14141 IntroductionL.A.Zadeh, a cybernetics expert of the University of California in the United States in 1965, published a thesis Fuzzy Sets on the magazine of Information and Control in proposing the famous fuzzy theory, which was of epoch-making significance of the science age. In 1972, an American linguist, G. Lakoff, announced a thesis named Hedges: a study in meaning criteria and the logic of fuzzy concepts. It is the first time to bring about the term Hedges and definite it “words whose job is to make things fuzzier or less fuzzy”. In 1975, Lakoff pointed out that some language characters appear more frequently in female utterance than in males. Then he called this language phenomenon womens language or features. In fact, hedges are one of the distinct characters among the womens language or features. Professor Wu Tiepin launched a paper First Exploration of Vague Language on the forth issue Foreign Language, marking the beginning of vague language in China. Since a number of language linguists have engaged in the study, vague language has become an emerging and frontier science. With the development of fuzzy linguistics at home and abroad, hedges are also stepping into a new stage both in theory and in application. However, although many Chinese linguists do a lot work of the hedges appliances, hedges in female utterance characters are shortage of formation of in-depth and systematic research. In these years, lots of linguistics are tied up with female from the aspect of hedges. Shui Miao (2008) analyzed the functions of exactness, interpersonal relationship ,flexibility and misconception of gender differences on hedges, and also discussed the reasons of hedges in female utterance. But she failed to connect the practical materials with hedges. Zhang Xiaohui (2009) owes this character to women low society status, which appears to be far more than to explain this phenomenon completely. Taking the example of Pride and Prejudice, Wang Peng and Sun Feiran (2009) discussed the pragmatic functions and reasons of hedges in female utterance and stated that hedges have interpersonal coordination, dissemblance and protection as well as refinement and courtesy functions. It seems lacking in enough evidence for women frequent use of hedge in practice. If we want to search into the use of hedges in female utterance, the best method is to combine the theory with oral practice.2. Hedges2.1 The definition of hedgesAs for the definition of hedges, different language linguists have different explanations. The term, hedges, was firstly defined as “words whose job is to make things fuzzier or less fuzzy” by Lakoff in 1972.The notion of hedges is just some uncertain conception or restrictive phases on the discipline pragmatics and discourse analysis in Cristals (1997:170) Modern Linguistic Dictionary .Verschueren (1999:193) held the view that hedges limited the prepositional content directly, namely evaluating preposition attitudes, congnition or proof attitudes in the direct way, at the same time showing metapragmatic awareness. Weinreich(1996) called hedges metapragmatic operation language, such as true, real. Yule (1996) defined “the cautious comprehending expression of how are the words understood ” in his book Pragmatics, like “as far as I know” ,this word providing certain information for us.Personally, the author prefers the definition of hedges given by Li Qianju in his book Vague Semantics Introduction: hedges are attached to the clear meaning words or expressions, which can change original, certain conception to vagueness. As a matter of fact, hedges are not only words, phases, but also some composite structure and minor sentence . We can totally call them hedges. 2.2 The classification of hedgesAccording to different standards, there are a variety of classifications of hedges that linguists put forward. Four types appears originally in L.A.Zadeh reseach: some adjectives and adverbs; like some suffixes ish, -likely, -ly , once they are added to words, these words may become hedges; some words indicate speakers hesitation or uncertainty, acting as adverbials of manner or adverbials of degree; when someone expresses oneself, he /she makes use of sentence structure in order to show more polite. Kasper (1981) regarded hedges as downgrader: face marker, such as “please”, “could”; understater, like “a little”; subjectivizer,like “im afraid”; downtoner, such as “probably” , “maybe”; cajoler, like “you know”; appealer, like “right”; hesitation marker, like “well”; limiter, like “this weekend”. In our country, according to He Zirans research, hedges consist of approximations and shields. From the board semantic characters, Chen Linhua (1994) divides hedges into five types: degree, range, quality, quantity and manner. Semantic hedges and pragmatic hedges under the degree of hedges depending on contexts make up of hedges proposed by Gao Xiaofang and Zhang Qin. Whats more, Zhao Yinglin classifies hedges of science and technology language into three parts: accuracy-oriented hedges, author-oriented hedges and reader-oriented hedges in accordance with hedges functions and restrictive range.However, so far the most influential and widely recognized one is proposed by E. F. Prince and his colleagues, J. Frader and C. Bosk from the point of pragmatics. Adaptors Approximators RoundersHedges Plausibility shields Shields Attribution shields 2.3 The structure of hedgesApproximators can alter the original meaning of discourse structure, or make some changes of the original words to some extend based on the practical situation, or give a fluctuating range to the original words. Adaptors are those that can reveal the true extent of differences in discourse, while rounders are those that limit fluctuating range. On the contrary, shields dont change the original meaning of discourse structure. It is just addition of an explanation which makes original affirmative tone towards relaxation. Plausibility are those speakers pluzz or doubt the theme, while shields shows speakers uncertainty of the theme, but it borrows the third persons opinion in order to express oneself indirectly. HedgesApproximatorsShieldsAdaptorsRoundersPlausibilityAttributionKind ofSort of A little bit ReallySomewhatVery Quite AlmostJustCommonlyIn a senseMore or lessEspeciallyMuchSlightlyHighlyTo some extentAboutAroundRoughlyapproximatelyOverSomething betweenA lot of Or soAt mostAt leastManySeldom SeveralMostSometimesStrictly speakingVirtuallyRegularPracticallyActuallyTechnicallyIn some aspects RelativelyessentiallyLess than/more thanI thinkI believeI guessI supposeI suspectI wonderI hope I knowHard to sayAs far as I can tellAs far as I knowProbablySeemMaybeIm afraidSb. says thatAccording to sb.The probability would beIt is said thatAs its well known,PresumablyIt is assumed thatYou knowIt is believedIt is reportedIt seems 3 Analysis of MaterialThis paper collects the females speech on the ceremony of 20092010 Oscar and 2010 MTV and analyzes hedges among these materials. Relatively speaking, these prizes are enjoying a high reputation all the times, a reflection American films development, even having great effect on many countries art in the world. Hence, annual award ceremony is considerably holy in numerous movie lovers heart.WhoGenderWhenWordsHedgesRateSandra BullockFemale2010 Oscar “Best leading actress”476418.61%Jeff BridgesMale2010 Oscar “Best leading actor”273165.86%Kate WinsletFemale2009 Oscar “Best leading actress”3594412.26%Sean PenMale2009 Oscar “Best leading actor”280165.71%Kristen StewartFemale2010 MTV “Best leading actress”741013.51%Robert PattisonMale2010 MTV “Best leading actor”6646.06%From the data of chart, we can learn that hedges take up quite a few of proportion in their speech. In addition, compared with male, female are inclined to use hedges at a higher rate. In 2009 Oscar, the rate of women using hedges is 2.75% higher than the males. Furthermore, in 2010, the gap rate increases by 6.55% on Oscar ceremony, while the rate of using hedges in female utterance on 2010 MTV ceremony gets to 13.51% , 7.45% higher than males.4. The Factors for Hedges Used Frequently in Female Utterance From the chart analysis above, we acknowledge that the phenomenon female tend to use hedges at a higher rate actually exists. As is known to us, there are many reasons for the present situation. On one hand, it could trace back to women physiological and psychological factors. On the other hand, from the view of social development, it may regulate the language development. In short, nature, culture and social, all of these altogether shape the character in female utterance. Many linguists regard the social status as the main reason in recent years research. That is to say, women lower social status than men leads to the high rates in female utterance. Nevertheless, in view of the public figures high social status involved in the materials, we dont expound the social status factor any more.4.1 Physiological factorIn terms of physiological mechanism, women physiological mechanism is more excellent than men, so women are good at expressing themselves and possessing outstanding language ability. K.W.Spevry, the professor and neurophysiologist in American Californian Institute of Technology, revealed the secrets of brain hemispheres. After that, a considerable part of researches show that women brain develops one year and a half to two years earlier than men, especially the early development of brain left hemisphere control of language center. Therefore, women have the advantage of communication. “on thinking, women imaginable thinking provides unique condition for women usage in expression of feeling.” There exists gender difference of development speed and level of brain hemisphere specialization function. Women left brain grows earlier, and levels are higher, whereas men right brain grows earlier, and levels higher. This accounts for males better special ability and females better language ability.Through the comparison of Sandra Bullock- Jeff Bridges，Kate Winslet- Sean Pen and Kristen StewartRobert Pattison, it can be proved that female are inclined to use more hedges, and that women use diverse hedges words , while men use plain hedges words. Therefore, hedges in female utterance have the natural condition for more frequent use. Getting to the bottom of the matter, women advantageous language ability elaborates the character.4.2 Psychological factorFrom psychology mechanism, the females growth environment makes feeling deeper, and more meticulous. Doctor Caroline, the professor of Institute of Pedagogy in Harvard, disclosed in her book the female stance in the male life cycle (1982): Females main character is to care and love others, pay attention to delicate feeling in the communication relationship. At the same time, in allusion to the Freudian mental theory” male suppresses female”, she points out in a sharp way: caring, loving people and emotion arent female flaw, but the superiority by the comparison of male.Female and male get different gender identification in the growth process since the childhood. Psychologically, this leads to more emotion enlightenment for female so that it develops in the direction of the female role. It isnt strange that female would pay more attention to the way they express. There is no doubt that women are tending towards modesty, patience, and cooperation in the communication. Even if they have different opinions, they will not express themselves directly to show their personality on purpose, but deliver themselves implicitly. Thus, in order to get balance of mental and emotion, reach an aim of communication, and obtain the effect of politeness, women will attach more importance to hedges properly. For instance,(1) Did I really earn this or did I just wear you all down?- Sandra BullockIn this sentence, the prize-winner asks a question. “我是真的凭本事赢得了这个奖，还是你们被我烦死了（颁个奖了事）？”. It shows the winner lacks a little bit confidence. The use of “really” and “just” emphasizes the question tone, which shows the persons mental inadaptability or modesty and cooperation to convey feelings obscurely.(2)“I feel very fortunate to have made it all the way from there to here.”- Kate Winslet“I feel”, a plausibility word, embodies the winners thoughts in the deep heart so that it shows the mental and feelings cognition of oneself about hedges in female utterance. “Very” proves the winners strong mental reaction, stating “表演之路一路走来，感觉自己是非常的幸运”. The two words imply the winners excitement of the Oscar prize in that the winner knows it difficult to achieve this award. 4.3 The factor of utterance topicXu Lisheng (1997) believed that women always talk about interpersonal affairs, but men are opposite because they avoid exposing themselves and keep some distance with the communication situation. The hottest topic of women is livelihood and affection, which has close connection with their status, job, social reputation, unique female character etc. Some topics-dressing, love, family, life affairs, experience, thoughts, and inspiration- are permanent in the womens spoken language community. All of these can not separated with female inborn affection and thinking. When women chat about these topics together, communicators can keep an equal, harmonious and coincident relationship.In general, people often talk about interesting private topics. There is no denying that the difference of interest results in different talking content. It has been evident that women prefer to individual feelings and relations with others, and that men always talk about same interesting activities, like sports, job, spare time activities and common memory. Womens topics need more tactful, and then hedges are the tool of making these topics natural. Whether confining oneself or evaluating others not, hedges are indispensable in these private topics.（3）“And Meryl, you know what I think of you and you are such a good kisser.”- Sandra BullockThis sentence is involved in the winner and Meryls “kissing” matter on the award ceremony of American film critics. It belongs to evaluation topic that is not convenient for public. The winner only uses “you know what I think of you”,” such” to recall Meryls memory for the effect of communication euphemism.（4）“Not enough time ,so I would like to thank what this film is about for me which are the moms that take care of the babies and the children no matter where they come from.”- Sandra BullockHere the topic is about the winners family. “I would like” and “about” reflects the winners eager to be thankful for everything the film brings about, not only the best leading actress award, but also others: experience, hardship as well as the support from family y. When women talk about life and affection like family, they always make use of the plausibility “I would like” to vague own personal thoughts.4.4 The factor of working environmentNowadays, human interaction has become an indispensable means of communication in the modern society. Importantly, the communicating ability is essential to the nature of success. The human interaction consists of group, language, purpose, bi-direction. As a member of society, the speakers occupation and identity determine their requirements of language from the interperso