Hedging as a Linguopragmatic and Communicative Strategy: Theoretical Foundations and Discursive Manifestations

Abstract

Hedges constitute an indispensable part of interpersonal communication as they enable speakers to show caution, form statements with purposive uncertainty, and reduce the degree of commitment. The article provides classical and modern theoretical perspectives that underline communicative roles of hedging. Meanwhile, it analyzes the influence of cognitive and socio-psychological factors on the choice and use of hedges. The research aims to give a comprehensive explanation of what hedges are and how they are used in communication, not only in the context of the linguistic framework, but also of speech culture and social interaction. The paper also addresses the impact of hedges on the semantic strength of an utterance, the impression of its truth value, and the proportion of interpersonal relations. A discourse-based analysis of Donna Tartt’s “The Goldfinch” focuses on the use of hedges in the speech of different characters, their pragmatic functions, and their contribution to the development of communicative strategies. The findings indicate that the use of hedges varies across different contexts and that they play a crucial role in ensuring communicative effectiveness.