A GENDER PERSPECTIVE ON HEDGES: PRAGMATIC FUNCTIONS IN LITERARY DIALOGUES

Abstract

Hedges constitute important pragmatic resources in conversational discourse. They are not always simple indicators of uncertainty, but are often employed to soften claims, manage interpersonal relations, communicate epistemic caution, and support the co-construction of the conversation between speakers. The present study examines the gendered use of hedges in Dan Brown’s Inferno. The research adopts a qualitative discourse-analytic method to explore the dialogues between the main characters (men and women), particularly the forms and functions of hedging devices. The analysis views hedges as context-specific and situated speech acts influenced by interpersonal relationships. The results suggest that the female characters in the novel use hedges to soften claims and propositions, whereas the male characters use hedges to convey uncertainty and lack of knowledge. This confirms that hedges have multifunctional pragmatic uses beyond gender stereotypes. The study concludes that hedging patterns in literary discourse are influenced by the inherent gender differences, as well as character roles, communicative intentions, and contextual factors.