关联理论视域下世界经济论坛演讲中模糊限制语的探析_英语论文

An Analysis of English Hedges in World Economic Forum Speeches from the Perspective of Relevance Theory

摘要

模糊限制语是一种重要的语言现象。关联理论认为交际是一个明示和推理相结合的过程。本论文以关联理论为指导，从词汇与句法层面分析世界经济论坛演讲中模糊限制语的使用情况，旨在发现隐藏其后的意图。世界经济论坛相关演讲显示演讲者在演讲过程中能够运用多种模糊限制语进行明示，而观众则在模糊限制语的帮助下进行推理。本论文中的相关探讨有助于更好地理解英语经济信息和模糊限制语在经济语篇中的使用。

关键词： 模糊限制语；关联理论；世界经济论坛演讲；明示-推理过程

Abstract

Hedge is an important language phenomenon. Under the guidance of  Relevance Theory which regards communication as an ostensive-inferential process, this thesis analyzes hedges in some Davos speeches from lexical and syntactic levels to find the hidden purposes of the hedges. In the delivery of the speeches the speakers can use various hedges as ostension and the audiences can make inferences with the help of these hedges. The exploration in this thesis can be helpful in better understanding economic information and application of hedges in economic discourses.

Key words: hedges; Relevance Theory; World Economic Forum Speeches; ostensive-inferential process

Contents

1 Introduction 1

2 Literature Review 1

2.1 Fuzziness 2

2.2 Hedges 2

2.3 Relevance Theory 4

2.4 The Relevant Studies 5

3 English Hedges in World Economic Forum Speeches 6

3.1 Hedges at Lexical Level 6

3.1.1 Approximator 6

3.1.2 Shields 8

3.2 Hedges at Syntactic Level 10

3.2.1 Conditional Sentences 10

3.2.2 Rhetorical Questions 10

3.2.3 Sentence Negation 11

4 An Analysis of English Hedges in Davos Speeches under Relevance Theory 11

4.1 Speaker’s Ostension Process 12

4.2 Hearer’s Inferential Process 13

5Conclusion 15

References 17