Exploring Hedging From The Perspective Of Politeness Strategy In The Lawyer's Argument

Employing descriptive and analytical method, the present thesis probes into hedging in lawyers' arguments in the perspective of politeness proposed by Brown&Levinson. The aim of the study is to describe the function of hedging and politeness strategies as well as the interrelation between the two.Three types of hedges are identified: speaker-oriented hedges, hearer-oriented hedges and accuracy-oriented hedges according to Hyland's model. The thesis centers on the three types of hedges. However, Brown and Levinson's face management theory is served in the analysis of functions of hedging, which comprises positive politeness, negative politeness and off record strategies. What is to be mentioned is that not the three strategies can be found in each type of hedges but the established theoretical framework is necessary in the analysis.The thesis aims to find out the face-saving effect achieved by hedging, i.e., how the lawyer avoid confrontation, build rapport and achieve persuasion in the very end in the court by using hedges. And the thesis makes an exploration on the frequency of hedges and politeness strategies in different legal texts.It is hoped that the present study may add to the existing research on hedging, and may help to gain a deeper understanding of the use of politeness strategies in lawyers' arguments.