摘　要

新闻发布会是国与国之间信息交流的一种主要方式，在新闻发布会上发言人的言语表达十分重要。作为一种语言策略，模糊限制语常常被发言人运用以达到最佳交际效果。本文首先阐述了模糊限制语的定义以及其分类，然后以美国前任国务卿赖斯和现任国务卿希拉里的两篇新闻发布会语录为语料，探讨了模糊限制语在外交新闻发布会上存在的原因及其语用功能。通过分析发现，发言人在新闻发布会上用模糊策略来表达观点或态度主要是由外交语言和新闻语言的特点，相关政策的要求以及发言人的地位所决定的。至于其语用功能，本文主要从以下四方面进行了探讨：表达礼貌，维护他国面子；避免责任，保护自己；使发言更客观，更令人信服；创造友好氛围，保持良好外交关系。总而言之，在外交新闻发布会上，灵活巧妙地使用模糊限制语才能保证发言人的交际目的。

关键词：模糊限制语；新闻发布会；原因；语用功能

Abstract

Press conference is one of the main ways of the exchange of information between countries and the verbal expressions at press conferences are of great importance. As a language strategy, hedges are often used by spokesmen in order to achieve the best communication effect. At first, this thesis states the definition and classification of hedge. Then based on the real language data-----two diplomatic press conferences of Condoleezza Condi Rice, the former American secretary of state and Hillary Clinton, the current U.S. secretary of state respectively, this paper explains the reasons and the pragmatic functions of hedges at diplomatic press conferences. It is shown that spokesmen at diplomatic press conferences express their opinions or attitudes with hedges because of the following three points: the characteristics of diplomatic and journalistic language, the requirement of relevant policies and the position of the spokesman. As to its pragmatic functions, the thesis mainly has a discussion from four aspects: expressing politeness and saving other countries’ face; avoiding responsibility and protecting oneself; making speech more objective and convincing; creating friendly atmosphere and maintaining good diplomatic relations. Generally speaking, it is true that using hedges subtly and flexibly can help to achieve the communicative goals successfully at press conference.

Key Words: hedges; press conference; causes; pragmatic functions

1. Introduction

It is commonly assumed that language should ideally be precise and that fuzziness should be avoided whenever possible．However, with the development of researches on language，fuzziness has been regarded as an important feature of natural language．It is a kind of basic attribute of natural language. As Wu Tie-ping (1999) said, “fuzziness is one of the essential characteristics of language, which has its special functions.” As an important part of vague language, hedge exists in human’s communications widely and plays a significant role.