An Analysis on Hedges in Spoken and Academic Genres Based on BNC Corpus

Abstract

This study is based on the BNC corpus and analyzes the frequency and functional differences of hedges in spoken and academic genres. In spoken genres, adaptors and plausibility shields are used more frequently, primarily to express the speaker’s attitudes and subjective opinions, while in academic genres, rounders and attribution shields are more common, aiming to enhance the accuracy and rationality of the content. The study also highlights the important pragmatic functions of hedges. The appropriate use of hedges in different genres helps reduce communication barriers and enhance efficiency. The findings indicates that both teachers and students should consciously learn and master the correct application of hedges in the teaching process. Teachers should demonstrate the proper use of hedges in instruction and encourage students to apply them flexibly in different contexts to enhance the accuracy and effectiveness of their language expression.