科技论文英文摘要中的模糊限制语——中美作者使用情况的对比分析

Hedges in English Abstracts of Scientific Research Articles:Contrastive Study Between Chinese Writers and American Writers

使用模糊限制语是英语写作中常用的策略之一。由于对模糊限制语认识不足,国内作者撰写的实证性科技论文英文摘要中模糊限制语的使用频率低于美国作者,并且种类比较单一,缺少变化。在摘要写作得体方面,国内作者要重视模糊限制语的作用,加强规范写作英文摘要的能力,提高论文被刊载的机会。

Hedges are frequently employed in English academic writing as a writing strategy. Based on a contrastive analysis of 90 English abstracts randomly selected from journals written by Chinese and Americans, the present study aims to explore characteristics in using hedges between Chinese writers and their American counterparts. The result shows that Chinese researchers are lack of variety and frequency in applying hedges, which indicates that they have no clear idea about the significance of applying hedges in academic writing and their deficiency in writing standard English abstracts. There-fore, Chinese writers should strengthen their English writing ability and attach great importance to hedging their expressions when writing abstracts.