摘要

在日常交流中，也许很少有人会说他们可以非常精确地用话语或文字来表达自己的想法，在大多数情况下，我们对于自己脑中的意念通常只是有个模糊的、大概的轮廓。模糊性是人类语言的内在特征。而模糊限制语作为模糊语言学中不可缺少的一个成员，是语言中最普遍、最典型的模糊语言，无论在口头交际或书面交际上都发挥着精确语言所不能代替的独特作用。恰当使用模糊限制语能增强语言的表现力和交际效果，使语言表达更自然得体、礼貌含蓄、灵活有效。事实证明，模糊限制语的语用功能不容忽视。本文对模糊限制语的定义、分类界定进行了总结，并着重从语用学角度深入分析了模糊限制语在言语交际中的功能，以期帮助英语学习者更好地掌握模糊限制语，并在日常交流中恰当地运用。

关键词：模糊语言；模糊限制语；分类；语用功能

Abstract

In daily communication, few people will say they can use clear or explicit words to express their ideas. In most cases, we always have fuzzy impression in our minds. Fuzziness is the internal characteristic of human language. Hedges, as a crucial member of the vague language family, are the most common and typical fuzzy language, no matter in verbal communication or written communication, which can not be substituted by precise language. The appropriate use of hedges in communication can enhance the expressive force and communicative effect of language and make the expressions more natural, decent, polite, flexible, and effective. In fact, the function of hedges cannot be ignored. In order to help English learners to grasp the hedges and use them properly in daily communication, this paper attempts to summarize the definition and classification of hedges, and discuss their functions in communication from pragmatic aspects.

Key words:  fuzzy language; hedges; classification; pragmatic function

1 Introduction   

In daily communication, people sometimes use precise language to express their ideas, but more often they prefer to use fuzzy language to convey information. Fuzziness is the internal characteristic of human language. Hedges, as a crucial member of the fuzzy language family, play an important role in verbal and written communication. Its function can not be substituted by precise language. The appropriate use of hedges can enhance the expressive force and communicative effect of language and make the expression more natural, polite, flexible and efficient. Moreover, the right use of hedges can send people's ideas more properly and keep a good interpersonal relationship between people and achieve the communicative goal successfully. Consequently, as an important part of fuzzy language, hedges are worth receiving more attention.