1、 本科毕业论文 （ 20 届） 英语 论简爱中模糊限制语的人际功能 The Interpersonal Function of Hedges in Jane Eyre 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）
2、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 I 摘要 模糊限制语是一种常见的语言现象，无论是在语言交际中或 者是文学作品中。不同模糊限制语有不同的功能，并且它们的独特功能是不能被其他精确语言所代替的。模糊限制语能调节和控制言语交际朝着正确的方向发展。本文旨在尽可能详尽地分析模糊限制语在交际中所体现的人际功能。作者从它的产生和发展开始本文的研究，介绍了其定义及不同分类。以韩礼德关于模糊限制语与情态之
3、间的关系研究为理论依据，选取了文学作品简爱中的一些经典对话为语料，本文从话语与权力的角度分析了模糊限制语在简爱中所体现的人际功能。作者重点分析了在人际交往中，人们倾向于使用何种模糊限制语以及使用它的频率。最后得出 结论，合理使用模糊限制语能增强语言的表达能力和灵活性，使语言表达更礼貌，得体，自然和富有表现力。另外，正确的使用模糊限制语能更适当的表达人们的感情和观点，因此维持良好的人际关系，达到成功交际的目的。 关键字： 模糊限制语 情态 话语与权力 人际功能 II Abstract The use of hedges is a common phenomenon in language com
4、munication, both in verbal communication and written communication. Hedges have different and unique functions which can not be substituted by precise language. It can regulate and control the development of communications towards the right direction. Aiming at analyzing the interpersonal functions
5、of hedges as detailed as possible， which are shown in speech communications, and starting the studying from their emergence and development, the author introduced the definitions and classifications of hedges. Basing on Hallidays study of the relations between hedges and modalities , using the conve
6、rsations between the two main characters Jane Eyre and Rochester as language materials， this paper tried to analyze the interpersonal functions of hedges in the perspective of the relations between discourse and power. The author put much emphasis on analyzing which kinds of hedges the communicators
7、 prefer and the frequency of their occurrence, tried to work out a conclusion that the appropriate use of hedges in interaction can enhance the expressive force and communicative effect of language, making the expressions more natural, decent, polite, flexible, and effective. Moreover, the right use
8、 of hedges can convey peoples emotions and ideas more properly, thereby help to maintain a good interpersonal relationship between the two parties in communication and achieve the communicative goal successfully. Key words: hedges; modalities; discourse and power; interpersonal function. III Content
9、s Abstract .II 1. Introduction .1 2. Hedges and the Interpersonal Function .1 2.1 The definitions and classifications of hedges 1 2.2 Interpersonal function 2 3. The Ways Which Hedges Perform Its Interpersonal Functions in Jane Eyre .3 3.1 Hedges and modalities .3 3.2 Discourse and power 5 4. A Stud
10、y on the Interpersonal Functions of Hedges 5 4.1 Hedges as a device for self- protection 6 4.2 Hedges as a device to express ones politeness . 7 4.3 Hedges as a device to save face and coordinate relations .9 4.4 Hedges as a device to smooth the communication 11 5. Conclusion 12 . Bibliography .14 A
11、cknowledgements .16 1 1 Introduction Hedges were a semantic concept when they were first put forward as linguistic terms. When they are used to describe one object, event or some internal feelings, hedges can extend or narrow the scope of the categories which they modify. In recent years, along with
12、 the deep study on vagueness of language, the study of hedges in pragmatics also becomes one of the most appealing topics. Hedges, as one important part of fuzzy language family, have drawn the attention of linguists from the beginning of 1960s. In 1972, G. Lakoff first introduced the concept of hed
13、ges in his article “Hedges: A Study in Meaning Criteria and the Logic of Fuzzy Concepts”, defining them as “words whose functions are to make things fuzzier or less fuzzy”. Since the 1970s, hedges have been studied from various angles and from almost every possible perspective. The concept of hedges
14、 began to move into pragmatic and discourse areas in the 1980s. Hedges have been proved to have special semantic features and rich pragmatic functions, which cannot be replaced by other words. The comprehensive study of hedges can contribute not only to the further study of Pragmatics and Semantics,
15、 but also to the proper use of them in successful communication. This thesis based on the dialogues in Jane Eyer and the theory of discourse and power to probes into the interpersonal functions of hedges in the view of the relation between hedges and modalities. 2 Hedges and the Theory of Interperso
16、nal Function Hedges play a crucial role in human communications. To understand their personal function thoroughly, we should first discuss their definitions and classifications. 2.1 The definitions and classifications of hedges The concept about hedges firstly came from Zadeh(1965) and Weineich(1966
17、), Zadeh put forward the theory of fuzzy set in 1965 in his works “Fuzzy set”, Weineichs “On the Semantic structure of English” (1966) also involved the usage of hedges, and he called it “mate-language functional word”. But the first person who put forward the Hedges and Hedging was Lakoff(1972), in
18、 his article “Hedges, A study in Meaning Criteria and the Logic of Fuzzy Concepts” hedging was defined as “For me, some of the most interesting questions are raised by the study of words whose meaning implicitly involves fuzziness-words whose job is to make things fuzzy or less fuzzy. I will refer t
19、o such words as hedges”. Brown and Levinson(1987) defined the term “hedge” in another way “A particle, word or phrase that modifies the degree of membership of a predicate or a 2 noun phrase in a set; it says of that membership that it is partial or true only in certain respects, or that it is more
20、true and complete than perhaps might be expected”. Biber(1988) made a discourse-related definition of hedges. “Hedges are informal, less specific markers of probability or uncertainty. Downtoners gave some indication of the degree of uncertainty; hedges simply mark a proposition as uncertain.” Oxfor
21、d Concise Dictionary of Linguistics gave the definition of “hedge” as “any linguistic device by which a speaker avoids being compromised by a statement that turns out to be wrong, a request that is not acceptable, and so on” (Matthews, 1997: 160). Different researchers propose the different ideas ab
22、out classification of hedges from distinct views. So there are so many kinds of classifications that it is unlikely to enumerate them all in the limited space of this thesis. The most influential classification so far was made by Prince et al. From the perspective of pragmatics, Prince, Frader and B
23、osks distinguished two groups: approximators and shields. Approximators are the kind of words which can change the original meaning of an utterance according to the actual situation. They are further divided into two main types: adaptors and rounders. Adaptors are those hedges which reveal the truth
24、 degree of an utterance. An utterance, which is partially correct, but not completely correct, can be more appropriate, more close to the real situation, and can avoid being arbitrary if it is modified by adaptors. Such adaptors include: sort of, a little bit, almost, entirely, really, kind of, more
25、 or less, some, somewhat, to some extent, and so on. Rounders, on the other hand, are those hedges which can bring a certain range to an utterance which is always about measuring. The speaker does not need to pay attention to the gap between what he said and the actual situation, because the hearer
26、can interpret the utterance within the given range. Rounders include: about, around, approximately, essentially, in most respects, loosely, strictly, roughly and so on. Shields are the kind of words that cannot change the original meaning of an utterance, but can mitigate its affirmative tone. Shiel
27、ds are also divided into two subtypes: the plausibility shields and the attribution shields. Plausibility shields are the kind of shields which can directly express the speakers guesswork or doubtful attitude to an utterance. Plausibility shields include: I think, I believe, I suppose, Im afraid, I
28、suspect, probably. Attribution shields are those shields which attribute the degree of uncertainty toward a proposition to another party. They include: according to her estimates, it is reported that. 2.2 Interpersonal function The interpersonal function of language has been studied for a very long
29、time by many 3 linguists, among whom the functionalists took the lead. Mathesius was the founder of the Prague school; he paid more attention to the expressive and interpersonal function of language. Halliday proposed the concept of three meta-functions of language, which focuses on the practical an
30、d multifunctional perspectives of language, and emphasizes the study of various functions realized by various language structures. The speaker uses language structures to express his aims and meanings: the expression of his comments, his attitudes, his evaluations, and also of the relationship that
31、he sets up between himself and the hearers-in particular, the communication role he adopts of informing, questioning, persuading, and so on. In other words, we use language to interact with other people, to establish and maintain relationships with them, to influence their behavior, to express our o
32、wn viewpoint on things in the world. This kind of function is called Interpersonal Function. According to Hallidays SFG, language is a resource for making meaning and it serves three meta-functions. That isideational, interpersonal and textual function. He believed that the speaker always used coher
33、ent utterance (textual function) to communicate with others (interpersonal function), and at the same time reflected the objective world and his/her inner world (the concept of function).Interpersonal function is mainly realized by “mood, modality, and intonation“. During the communication process,
34、the speakers should choose the proper words and expressions, to arouse the listeners cooperation and reaction with a negotiating, discussing and consulting attitude. When talking with others, the speakers should leave more space out for themselves instead of giving assert and try to avoid subjectivi
35、ty and extremity, which is the theoretical basis of using hedges in communication. In general, when the speakers use many hedges in their speech, which means they are not sure for their topic and dare not to give a assert, so they just give a tentative judgment. And thus it will relief their respons
36、ibility and protects their own role. In addition, Hedges also make words sound thoughtful, polite, regulate and maintain the equal and cooperative relations between the communicators, and this is its interpersonal function in communication. 3 The Ways which Hedges Perform its Interpersonal Functions
37、 in Jane Eyre 3.1 Hedges and modalities Interpersonal function is mainly embodied through the moods, modalities, and intonations， and the modalities play important roles in it. Modalities are speakers judgments about the success， effectiveness of their speech, or expressing their will in 4 proposes.
38、 Due to the wide range of meaning expressed by hedges, there are different linguistic concepts which may come close to hedges having the same function and use. One of these linguistic concepts which are closely related to hedges are modalities, Modalities, according to Halliday(1970), are related ju
39、st to those linguistic items which are concerned in different ways by different languages. They can be expressed via indirect means such as prepositional phrases or verb endings, via indirect means such as prepositional phrases or clauses, or in other ways, such as via adverbs. According to the diff
40、erent definitions of hedges we mentioned above, we can see that, to some degree, the two have many things in common both in their definitions or functions. Modalities are divided into two main categories: root and epistemic. Root or non-epistemic modality is “concerned with the necessity or possibil
41、ity of acts performed by morally responsible person”, including perhaps, probably, possibly, maybe, almost 。 Epistemic modality, on the other hand, is the “speakers assumptions or assessment of possibilities which can show the speakers confidence or lack of confidence in the truth of the proposition
42、 expressed”, such as I think, its likely, it is obvious. When compare these models and the hedges mentioned above, we find that, most of these models are included in hedges, the two have many trait overlaps. So, we can regard modals as a important constituent element of hedges. Wu Tieping(1999)said
43、in “模糊语言学 ”that “many hedges are modals in traditional grammar” In addition to, modals was divided into different degrees， such as must, ought to, need to, is to, these are high quantifier， will, would, shall and should are medium quantifier， may, might, can are low quantifier。 As to the verbs, know
44、 is a high quantifier， think is a medium quantifier，imagine, suppose, seem are low quantifier。 As significant linguistic devices， hedges and modalities have the following functions： 1)they aim at objectivity Since the use of hedges and modalities can reduce the possibility for the writer or speaker
45、to be too assertive， they can help them be more objective in their writing or speaking 2)Since hedges and modalities could be regarded as a form of euphemism they can enable the language users to be more polite Hedges have been treated as a sign of politeness by Brown and Levinson(1987)in their unif
46、ied model of politeness in spoken Context According to this model， hedges are a strategy which is employed to reduce the risk of confrontation in social interactions 3)By reducing the degree of commitment on the part of the speaker, the use of hedges and modalities can also reduce the responsibility of the speaker From the above analysis， we can therefore conclude that since hedges and modalities are of great significance in discourse. The ability of using them
