1、 本科毕业论文 （ 20 届） 英语 模糊限制语在新闻发布会上的应用 The Application of Hedges at Press Conference 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
2、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 新闻发布会是国与国之间信息交流的一种主要方式，在新闻发布会上发言人的 言语表达十分重要。作为一种语言策略，模糊限制语常常被发言人运用以达到最佳交际效果。本文首先阐述了模糊限制语的定义以及其分类，然后以美国前任国务卿赖斯和现任国务卿希拉里的两篇新闻发布会语录为语料，探讨了模糊限制语在外交新闻发布会上存在的原因及其语用功能。通过分析发现，发言人在新闻
3、发布会上用模糊策略来表达观点或态度主要是由外交语言和新闻语言的特点，相关政策的要求以及发言人的地位所决定的。至于其语用功能，本文主要从以下四方面进行了探讨：表达礼貌，维护他国面子；避免责任，保护自己；使发言更客观，更令人信服；创造友好 氛围，保持良好外交关系。总而言之，在外交新闻发布会上，灵活巧妙地使用模糊限制语才能保证发言人的交际目的。 关键词： 模糊限制语；新闻发布会；原因；语用功能 II Abstract Press conference is one of the main ways of the exchange of information between countries an
4、d the verbal expressions at press conferences are of great importance. As a language strategy, hedges are often used by spokesmen in order to achieve the best communication effect. At first, this thesis states the definition and classification of hedge. Then based on the real language data-two diplo
5、matic press conferences of Condoleezza Condi Rice, the former American secretary of state and Hillary Clinton, the current U.S. secretary of state respectively, this paper explains the reasons and the pragmatic functions of hedges at diplomatic press conferences. It is shown that spokesmen at diplom
6、atic press conferences express their opinions or attitudes with hedges because of the following three points: the characteristics of diplomatic and journalistic language, the requirement of relevant policies and the position of the spokesman. As to its pragmatic functions, the thesis mainly has a di
7、scussion from four aspects: expressing politeness and saving other countries face; avoiding responsibility and protecting oneself; making speech more objective and convincing; creating friendly atmosphere and maintaining good diplomatic relations. Generally speaking, it is true that using hedges sub
8、tly and flexibly can help to achieve the communicative goals successfully at press conference. Key Words: hedges; press conference; causes; pragmatic functions III Contents 1. Introduction .1 2. Hedge . .1 2.1 The definition of hedges . . .1 2.2 The classification of hedges . .1 2.2.1 Approximators.
9、 .2 2.2.2 Shields . .3 3. The Application of Hedges at Press Conference .4 3.1 Case study. . .4 3.2 The causes of hedges existing at press conference. .5 3.2.1 Conforming to the features of diplomatic and journalistic language.5 3.2.2 Being required by relevant policies . .6 3.2.3 Being determined b
10、y the position of the spokesman .7 4. The Functions of Hedges at Press Conference . 8 4.1 Expressing politeness and saving other countries face .8 4.2 Avoiding responsibility and protecting oneself .9 4.3 Making speech more objective and convincing .10 4.4 Creating friendly atmosphere and maintainin
11、g good diplomatic relations .11 5. Conclusion .12 Bibliography.13 Acknowledgements .14 1 1. Introduction It is commonly assumed that language should ideally be precise and that fuzziness should be avoided whenever possible However, with the development of researches on language， fuzziness has been r
12、egarded as an important feature of natural language It is a kind of basic attribute of natural language. As Wu Tie-ping (1999) said, “fuzziness is one of the essential characteristics of language, which has its special functions.” As an important part of vague language, hedge exists in humans commun
13、ications widely and plays a significant role. The term “hedge” was first put forward in 1972 by Lakoff, the famous American linguist and subsequently a lot of scholars at home and abroad have gone deep into the study of hedges. Hedge occurs frequently in different kinds of styles and it is an import
14、ant field of the study of fuzzy linguistics. The author of this thesis will try to have a discussion about the hedges used by spokesmen at diplomatic press conference and to reveal the causes of the existence of hedges as well as its pragmatic functions. The paper aims at illustrating that the appli
15、cation of hedges at diplomatic press conference is extremely significant. 2. Hedge 2.1 The definition of hedges The term “hedge” originally appeared in Lakoffs (1972) groundbreaking monograph hedges: a study in meaning criteria and the logic of fuzzy concepts. The definition of hedge that Lakoff (19
16、72) made was “a word or phrase whose job is to make things fuzzier”. Su Yuan-lian(2002) argued that this definition was too general and it was easy to mix up hedge and fuzzy language, so he defined hedges as “words and expressions that limit the degree of vagueness of vague words or that can make pr
17、ecise words fuzzy”. He Zi-ran(1988) thought such words could not only revise the discourse content about the true extent or coverage, but also indicate the speakers direct subjective measure on the discourse content, or his indirect evaluation by providing objective basis. 2.2 The classification of
18、hedges As to the issue of the classification of hedges, different linguists and scholars have different understanding. From the prospective of generalized semantic features, Chen 2 Lin-hua (1994) classified hedges into five types: hedges of degree, scope, quantity, quality and manner maxim. Accordin
19、g to the different degrees of being context dependent, Gao Xiao-fang and Zhang Qin (2002) divided hedges into two types: semantic hedges and pragmatic hedges. So far the most influential and widely recognized one was proposed by E. F. Prince and his colleagues, J. Frader and C. Bosk from the point o
20、f pragmatics. In accordance with its pragmatic functions, hedges can be classified into approximators and shields. 2.2.1 Approximators Approximators amend the content of discourse structure to some extent or give a general fluctuant scope. That is to say, this kind of hedge puts a vague limitation o
21、n the words itself. So approximators refer to these words that can change the original meanings of utterances. On the basis of actual situations, speakers use this kind of hedges to alter meanings of words in the verbal communication, and reach the communicative goals in the end. Approximators can b
22、e subdivided into two types: adaptors and rounders. (1) Adaptors Adaptors are words that make an amendment to some extent on the utterance meaning according to the actuality. In the verbal communication, there are some utterances that are almost right but may not be exactly right, so speakers often
23、use adaptors to make their utterances more appropriate. Adaptors can make ones words closer to the fact and avoid being arbitrary. Some of the most frequently used adaptors are listed as followed: sort of ,a little bit, almost, entirely, kind of, more or less, quite, really, some, somewhat, to some
24、extent, etc. For example: She noticed that he was a little bit on the blue side. If “a little bit” is deleted, people may think that he was obviously black and blue. It is not conform to the actual situation or may be exaggerate. (2) Rounders Rounders are words and phases that have a fluctuant range
25、. Some of the most frequently used rounders are listed as followed: about, approximately, essentially, in most respects, loosely/strictly speaking, par excellence, roughly, something between, around, or so. These words are often used with figures. Listeners can understand what the speaker says withi
26、n a limited range, regardless of the proximity 3 between the fact and the words. For example: The plane will be landing approximately in 15 minutes. If “approximately” is not used in this sentence, it will be considered that the plane will land on the airport on time, but actually it is impossible t
27、o be so accurate. So “approximately” is added to make the sentence more objective and more acceptable by listeners. 2.2.2 Shields Shields do not change the meaning of discourse structure. If this kind of hedges is added into the utterances, it means adding an explanation that what the speaker says i
28、s his own opinion or the others, which makes the affirmative tone move towards relaxation. Shields can also be subdivided into two types: plausibility shields and attribution shields. (1)Plausibility shields Plausibility shields refer to words and phrases that can express speakers guess or skeptical
29、 attitude toward the topic and indicate that the opinion is stated in the first persons point of view. Some of the most frequently used plausibility shields are listed as followed: I think, as far as I know, as far as I can, seem, probably, wonder, hard to say, I believe, I assume, I suppose, Im afr
30、aid, I guess, I suspect, etc. When they are not confident in the truth of their words or can not give affirmatives, speakers can use these plausibility shields to alleviate affirmative tones. For example: I think we can probably finish the work before evening? Here “I think, probably” shows that as
31、for the speaker, it is not utterly sure that they can finish the work before evening. He can only say that “in his opinion, it may be done”, thus the tone is alleviated. (2) Attribution shields. Attribution shields are also used to express speakers uncertainty of their words, but the speaker express
32、es his idea by quoting the views of others. Some of the most frequently used attribution shields are listed as followed: according to ones estimates, as is well known, presumably, someone says that, it is said that, the possibility would be, the probability is, it is assumed that etc. So attribution
33、 shields make the utterance more objective and subtly avoid the responsibility 4 caused by some inaccurate expressions. For example: It was said that three staffs would be fired this month. The speaker is not exactly sure whether three staffs will be fired or not this month, so “it was said that” is
34、 used to avoid the suspicion of spreading rumor in case of incorrect news. 3. The Application of Hedges at Press Conference Press conference is an activity held by a certain social organization to release news about the organization to the public directly and to explain the organizations big issues.
35、 There are a lot of hedges being used at press conference, especially at diplomatic press conference. As a language strategy, hedges are often used by the spokesman in order to achieve the best communication effect. It is a universal phenomenon. 3.1 Case study This article is based on the two real d
36、iplomatic press conferences of Condoleezza Condi Rice, the former American secretary of state, and Hillary Clinton, the current U.S. secretary of state respectively. The author of this thesis will focus on the analysis of the application of hedges at diplomatic press conferences. Rices press confere
37、nce was held in China World Hotel in Beijing on March 21, 2005, after finishing her first visit to China as the new American secretary of state. The main themes of this press conference involve: the relationship between China and the United State, North Korea and Six-Party Talks, human rights and fr
38、eedom of religion and Taiwan issue. Hillarys press conference was held in South Korea on May 24, 2010, mainly including the problems of North Korea and Cheonan event. The length of Rices press conference is comparatively longer; while Hillarys press conference is shorter. The author of this thesis h
39、opes to find out the causes and the pragmatic functions of hedges at diplomatic press conferences according to the analysis of the data of the two press conferences. The followings are some initial statistical data about the application of hedges at the two press conferences. (Including the parts of statement and question-and-answer; journalists questions are not involved)
