The pragmatic functions of hedges

李墨

【Abstract】Hedges is an important language of pragmatic markers in language communication，almost everywhere in the communicative activities，it is closely related to our daily language，is one of the pragmatic strategies and methods used of communication commonly，often appear in the reserved information，avoid unnecessary conflict，the absence of conscious etc.in language communication occasions，such as make the language more scalability and flexibility，objectivity and reliability，make the language more attractive and implicative euphemism，full of magical color.Many scholars analysis this linguistic phenomenon from pragmatics comprehensively.

【Key words】hedges； fuzzy； pragmatic

In both written and spoken language communication， people，especially native speaker，can try in some appropriate strategies to employ words like propably，maybe，rather，sort of，it seems that …，etc.in order to convey some communicative messages and attitudes for some reasons.This is a very interesting phenomenon in language use.These words are known as “hedging”.The strategy used with the words of this kind is called “hedging”.

Linguistic hedges are thonght of as appropriate linguistic devices that a native speaker uses in written or spoken communication in order to express what he tries to convey and to perform certain speech acts，or as informative indicators by which the addressee can possibly clearly understand the intention of the speaker.But it is common，to some extent，that non-native speakers may not realize the importance and necessity to use the linguistic devices of this kind.Since native speakers can know and realize how naturally they use these strategies for successful communication，it can be considered that for L2 learners，hedging，to some extent，signifies the level of how a L2 learner is able to use the target language in an appropriate manner.

For vagueness，the pragmatic purpose of hedges have more complex causes，also involves more complicated factors.Say simply，hedges in the process of pragmatics as a pragmatic strategy to achieve communicative intent or purpose； And on the other hand，for special pragmatic purpose，and is deliberately used to convey a variety of language users between the lines.For example：he should be a good student.In this sentence，“should” is a hedges，if the speaker in the specific context it is used to express with the actual situation is not consistent with subjective evaluation，turned out to be an effective pragmatic strategy，sends out a variety of the implication，the pragmatic purpose of hedges.In many everyday situations，for example：two people to go shopping，one side will say“if I were you，I may not be in ten thousand yuan to buy a package.”.Combined with the specific context，the words express intent or purpose has a strong uncertainty，both may be an advice to a friend，can also be blamed or discontent，or other means，but the use of the euphemism“might”will make statements and temper，don't hurt feelings between friends.Whatever the factors contributing to the pragmatic purpose of hedges，all reveal the context as well as the communicative intentions of speakers and other factors play important roles and give play to the role of key，in a nutshell，the pragmatic purpose of hedges，context，language users and language use，and other factors，such as communicative intention of the intimate relationship，is the result of the combination of these factors and performance.

1.Track expanded the information capacity of language expression

In general，language expression to higher efficiency.This particularly important，as a language carrier of spreading information and meet the requirements often inseparable from the language of the hedges.As people writing outline，newsletters，news feeds，and communication.Such manuscripts containing large amount of information，the expression of high efficiency，is bound to have a fair degree of hedges.

2.Special effect in the language expression

Hedges of language expression can be found everywhere in People's Daily communication，such as when someone is asking for help tend to the euphemism hedges to signal its willingness to“I was wondering if you could possibly do me a small favour，if you order not mind？”In many special and important communication activity，language expression and decent or not often directly affect the process and results of such activities.So-called“propriety”is to use tactful and reserved words and expression originally relatively sharp ideas and concepts，is usually accomplished with the aid of hedges，and often will receive unexpected special effects.Why did the speaker sometimes in communication is not simply to express their thoughts and ideas？The reason for this is that too blunt the effect will be counterproductive，affected the communication effect.And in the magic of implicative and tactful expression showed his dissatisfaction，but not let others to accept again，embarrassed.

3.Broaden the imagination space of the words

In general，hedges can lead to uncertainty referred range boundaries，language expression also makes its meaning extension has become blurred.When need to exactly express some concept and intention，meaning extension will inevitably affect the expression effect，but on some occasions，meaning the fuzzy expression is more meaningful than“ok”to express，because hedges to broaden the imagination of language expression，it is particularly important in the literature.Many lines all look very fuzzy，the author has no intention to define，but leave enough imagination to readers to think，to taste and interpretation.As in daily application，we will leave a space to others，make the language more connotation，charisma and charm.Thus，hedges in daily language really is a very important role.

4.Conveys information to control the conversation

Famous American pragmatic Grice，1975 puts forward the theory of conversational implicature.The theory consists of a general principle and four TiaoCi criterion.The rule of “quantity” is one of a very important rule.Obviously，this is a principle we must remember.Among them，we can see that Grice in advocating a concise expression.With as little information as possible concise conveys hope to express meaning.

5.Based on some kind of special purpose intended to retain information

In daily language communication，interlocutors often in order to protect themselves or respect each other and merge each other between communication atmosphere，speakers tend to use hedges，retain certain information，avoid too blunt and affect each other's mood and emotions.For example：She is about 49 years old.

6.Absence of conscious

In everyday language activities tend to appear this kind of situation，the speaker suddenly“short circuit”in the conversation，or forget what a word，or is an instant fail to choose a very appropriate words to express some views.In order not to make conversation interrupt，interlocutors have had to take“a word that”fuzzy expression is vacant one word in the sentence.His listeners with understanding and grasp of the situation，still can understand 3.4.6 speaker intended to convey the basic intention.

7.Using hedges expression to avoid unnecessary conflict

Diplomacy can be used as a model，but in our daily life is used to avoid unnecessary trouble and conflict，deliberately vague，is not straightforward to provide information，words often contain is different from the literal meaning between the lines.

Illustrates the hedges are extremely important.About the discussion goes back to ancient times，the western ideological circle in any philosophy and linguistics.Is important in the history of human，also is the contemporary one of the focuses of the semantics and pragmatics，deserves serious attention and grasp.