1、语言学论文Hedges in Desperate HousewivesbyJin NingThesis Advisor: Ms. Gu JimeiSubmitted to the B. A. Committee in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Degree of Bachelor of Arts in the English Department of School of Foreign Languages of Langfang Teachers College 13 June 2011廊坊师范学院本科生毕业论文题 目： 绝
2、望的主妇中的模糊限制语学生姓名： 金 宁指导教师： 顾冀梅二级学院： 外国语学院系 别： 英语系专 业： 英 语年 级： 2012届学 号： 08030142009完成日期： 2011年6月13日Title: Hedges in Desperate HousewivesAbstract: In the real life, we sometimes dont need to give detailed information, or we are not sure about the news resource; thereby, hedge is one of the useful stra
3、tegies to make the communication effective and appropriate. This paper mainly discusses different types of hedges and their pragmatic functions in Desperate Housewives. It firstly introduces the distinct forms of two main kinds of hedges (Approximators and Shields). Secondly, it examines what pragma
4、tic functions can be achieved by using hedges. Thirdly, from the perspectives of the cooperative principle, the politeness principle and face-saving theory, it explains how hedges can make successful communication. Key words: Hedges; Desperate Housewives; Classification; Pragmatic Functions 题目：绝望的主妇
5、中的模糊限制语摘要：现实生活中，我们有时不必给出具体信息，或者不确定信息来源，因而模糊限制语成了进行有效得体交流的一个重要策略。这篇论文主要讨论模糊限制语的不同类型以及他们在绝望的主妇中所起的语用功能。首先介绍了它的两种不同类型（变动型模糊限制语和缓和型模糊限制语），然后又探讨了其语用功能，最后在合作原则、礼貌原则和面子理论基础上，解析它如何实现成功的交流。 关键字：模糊限制语；绝望的主妇；分类； 语用功能Contents1. Introduction.12. The Classifications of Hedges.22.1 Approximators2 2.1.1 Adaptors2 2
6、.1.2 Rounders.22.2 Shields.3 2.2.1 Plausibility shields3 2.2.2 Attribution sheilds.33. The Functions of Hedges.54. The Analyses of Hedges.64.1 The cooperative principle.64.2 The politeness principle and face-saving theory.65. Conclusion8Works Cited.9AcknowledgementsMy sincere gratitude first goes to
7、 Ms. Gu Jimei, my supervisor, for her constructive suggestions, valuable ideas, great patience and encouragement. Without her help, the completion of this thesis would have been impossible.I owe great gratitude to all the teachers in the English Department. Their lectures and instructions have been
8、of great help to my study.I would also like to express my thanks to my friends for their constant concern, generous help, and meaningful comments on the study.Finally, I must say I owe gratitude to my parents. Their love and encouragement have supported me to overcome difficulties and achieve the fi
9、nal success.1. IntroductionIn the article “Fuzzy Sets”, L. A. Zadeh firstly evoked the development of studying vague language in the field of linguistics (338-53). The concept of “vagueness” gave linguists a different idea to study language and made some contributions to the fields of semantics, psy
10、chology or sociology. Seen from the eyes of the dead woman-Alice, Desperate housewives tells colorful lives of a group of women in the street of Wisteria Lane. They work through domestic struggles and family life while facing the secrets, crimes and mysteries hidden behind their doors. Therefore, to
11、 protect their privacy and soften the conflicts, they tend to use vague language, particularly hedges making the communication polite and appropriate. Through analyzing the dialogues, it is better to help understand different types of hedges and their pragmatic functions. Through analyzing the dialo
12、gues in Desperate Housewives, it is better to help understand different types of hedges and their pragmatic functions. 2. A Classification of HedgesAccording to G. Lakoff, hedge means the words which make the things vague (qtd. in 何自然、冉永平，177). G. Yule defines hedge as “cautious notes expressed abou
13、t how an utterance is to be taken when giving information” (130). To this regard, the usage of hedges depends on the specific context in which it is embedded.According to whether the hedge could change the truth-condition of an utterance or change the meaning of the utterance, hedges could be divide
14、d into two major types: approximators and shields (何自然、冉永平，178-81). 2.1 ApproximatorsApproximators are used to change the meaning or to modify the original meaning of the utterance to a certain degree. They can avoid the arbitrariness in communication and make the utterances more objective. They con
15、tain two different kinds, that is, adaptors and rounders. 2.1.1 AdaptorsAdaptors can change the degree of the truth of a statement by using the words like “sort of, really, almost, somewhat, more or less, a little bit” and so on. They are used when one is not completely sure about what he said, or w
16、hen one shows his request indirectly.When Glenn invites Tom to be the C.F.O. and offers great salary, he refuses it for he and Carols are friends. However, tempted by rich treatment, he decides to talk about the promotion with Carols:TOM. But it is a very generous offer, and I figure if thats my val
17、ue in the marketplace that maybe I should bedoing a little better here .CAROLS. You know rough things have beenyouve seen the empty desks. We just cant offer you that kind of money (Desperate Housewives episode 17).Tom is unsure about whether he can get the salary increase or not, so he says “a litt
18、le better” to indicate that he deserves a raise. And to Carols, it is euphemistic to refuse “that kind of money”. On the occasion, hedges can make the request or refusal proper and reasoning.2.1.2 RoundersRounders are some approximators which can restrict the range of variation. They are always used
19、 as modifiers to the numbers to imply uncertainty, such as “about, around, something between X and Y, approximately”.For example, Susan doesnt know about the exact day when she can get a kidney, so she doesnt need to tell the precise number. On such kind of occasion, using hedges is to make the conv
20、ersation appropriate.BREE. And how long will you need to have this?SUSAN. Till they find me a donor.GABY. Well, that wont take very long, will it?SUSAN. Three or five years (Desperate Housewives episode 11).Moreover, hedges can be used when it is not necessary to mention the exact number. When Carol
21、s asks, “How many years have we been married?” Gaby says “Too many” (Desperate Housewives episode 11). Of course, Gaby knows exactly how long they have been married, but she doesnt mean to answer it for she knows what Carols means, just saying “too many”.2.2 ShieldsShields do not change the meaning
22、of the utterances. They soften the affirmative tone by embedding a sentence or a word in the utterance. There are two types of shields, which are plausibility shields and attribution shields.2.2.1 Plausibility shieldsPlausibility shields are used as one shows his hesitation and indicates his specula
23、tion. Some introductory phrases, such as “I think/ believe, Im afraid, probably, as far as I can tell”, or the use of modality “may, might”, can express hesitation or possibilities.It is known that blood relatives are the best chance for a match, so they think Sophie (Susans mother) can be a donor.
24、But she is known to be a selfish woman, implying Julie or M.J. may be possible. However, Mike indicates “You know, we were actually thinking you might be a possible donor”, and hesitates if she is willing to test it (Desperate Housewives episode 12).And when Bree faints, the doctor is unsure about t
25、he cause, saying “Im not exactly sure. She probably just overexerted herself” to show her guess.2.2.2 Attribution ShieldsAttribution shields are different from the plausibility shields in that they dont express ones hesitation or speculation directly. By quoting the idea of the third party, like “it
26、 is said, as is well known, according to ones estimate, someone says that, the probability is”, one can make his statement objective and convincible. For instance, when Paul wants to buy Mrs. Cluskeys house, he says “the doctor says you will no longer live on your own” which means that you are too o
27、ld and it is better to sell the house right now. So a few days later, as Beth greets with Mrs. Cluskey:BETH. Morning, Mrs. Cluskey. How are you today?MRS. CLUSHEY. I feel great. Sorry to disappoint you.BETH. Oh, oh, what?MRS. CLUSHEY. Just had my annual physical. Doctor says Im gonna be around for y
28、ears. So you can tell that vulture husband of yours. Hell pick at someone elses carcass (Desperate Housewives episode 4).“Doctor says” can prove authoritatively that Mrs. Cluskey can live longer, indicating that Pauls trick cannot be realized. It also indirectly shows her hatred and anger to Paul. A
29、dditionally, Lee is furious to hear Bob playing with another guy. But he wasnt sure about it; he states that “Jason told Hunter who told Serigo who told me Bob has been seen out three times with some hunky latino” (Desperate Housewives episode 7). To some extent, it can lower his uncertainty.3. The
30、Functions of HedgesAs Yang Yujun states that hedges are different from idioms and they are not used to resume or fill in a pause in a conversation. They are a kind of communicative strategy and a part of the language speakers competence in daily communication. In some situations, hedges are essentia
31、l to achieve the communicative goal as follows (20-25):Firstly, they are used for lacking specific information. When Susans friends are concerned about how long it takes to get a kidney, she is not sure about it, indicating “three or five years”. Secondly, they can be meant for power and politeness, as one way of observing the politeness principle and of not
