英语附加疑问句的语用功能及其使用频率的影响因素

Analysis on the Pragmatic Functions of Tag Questions and Influence Factors on its Usage Frequency

附加疑问句在交谈中扮演着语用功能的重要角色,它既用于表达说话人的不确定性,又具有表达礼貌的作用。作为礼貌策略的一种实现形式,它具有寻求/确认信息、促进谈话、弱化语势等功能。女性在全是女性的会议中较多使用表达情态功能的英语附加疑问句;会议主持人比其他参会者使用更多的英语附加疑问句;参会者职务的高低与英语附加疑问句使用频率和表达无直接联系。

It is widely acknowledged that tag questions serve important pragmatic functions in conversation. Tag questions can be used to express the speaker＇s uncertainty,or they can be used as an indicator of politeness. As a realization form of politeness,they underline the role as a tool for facilitating conversation. By transcribing and analyzing audio records of 10 international meetings from one Beijing university,and using the classification method provided by Holmes,it was found that women in all female groups used more modal tag questions than women in mixed groups,and people acting as chairperson used more tag questions than non-chairpersons,while no direct connection was found between the hierarchy of power among participants and the frequency of tag question usage in meetings.