学术英语口语中缓和型模糊限制语使用特征研究

On usage features of mitigating hedging devices in academic spoken discourse

本研究以MICASE语料库为基础,采用定性、定量相结合的研究方法探讨了口头学术交流中英语缓和型模糊限制语的使用特征,重点考察了说话者性别、话语模式、以及不同学科领域对缓和型模糊限制语使用的影响。在此基础上,对使用频率较高的probably做了进一步的语用功能分析。结果表明,1)女性使用直接缓和型模糊限制语的频率高于男性,且女性更偏好情态量值低、口语化程度高的模糊表达方式;2)不同学科领域和不同话语模式语篇中模糊限制语的使用频率也存在显著差异。社会、教育领域以及生物、健康领域使用缓和型模糊限制语的频率高于物理、工程以及人文、艺术领域。个人自述话语模式下,缓和型模糊限制语的使用频率高于互动模式和混合模式。发话人使用probably类模糊限制语主要实现三个语用功能。一是留有余地,保护发话人的"负面子",表现科研人员的严谨性;二是维持命题的开放性,允许其它声音介入命题的讨论,展现出学术交流的开放性和自由度;三是给予受话人参与命题讨论的空间,避免对受话人负面评价过重而展现出学术会话人谦逊、礼貌的学术品质。此外,从实际应用的视角审视模糊限制语的应用,对于全面了解模糊限制语的使用范围,了解其语用功能有一定的意义。

Based on the MICASE corpus,the present study,through the quantitative and qualitative approach,is intended to explore the usage features of mitigating hedging devices in academic spoken discourse. It focuses on the effect of gender,academic division and discourse mode on the use of mitigating hedging devices. Taking probably as a case,the study further provides a functional analysis of the hedging devices. Results indicate that 1） women tend to use more mitigating hedging devices than men; 2） speakers tend to use more mitigating hedging devices in social/educational discipline and biological/medical discipline than in physics/engineering and humanity/art. The use of mitigating hedging devices is more frequent in monologic mode than in interactive and mixed mode. Further analysis indicates that mitigating hedging devices can at least achieve three principal pragmatic functions. Firstly,it helps to protect the speaker＇＂negative face＂and express the preciseness of researchers. Secondly,it leaves propositions open for discussion and allows more voices to contribute to academic discussion,expressing the openness and freedom of academic interaction. Thirdly,it encourages the audience to be involved in the on-going discussion and avoiding too much criticism to the audience,expressing the speakers modesty and good manners. Additionally,this present paper,by examining the mitigating hedging in use,could help to have a comprehensive understanding of their application range and pragmatic functions.