The Contradiction of Certainty and Uncertainty in Hedging and Its Implications to Language Teaching

 

 

Aylanda Nugroho

 

 

To some people the term “hedging” is not as popular as greeting, thanking, or leave-taking. This does not mean they hedge less often than they greet, thank, or apologies. In fact, people hedge very frequently in their ordinary, everyday talk. Hedging can also be found in newspapers, magazines, books, even science textbooks and research reports, which many people think these should give exact and accurate information.

           

There seems to be a negative perception about hedging among language users because it shows uncertainty that is perceived as indicator of unreliability. On the other hand, second or foreign language speakers very often sound too blunt or too direct in the ears of native speakers. It might not be because they are rude or have simple understanding of this world, but it is probably because they do not hedge.

 

In most cases, hedged statements will very often be more appropriate and accurate than those which are not hedged. This paper will introduce and familiarise the hedging system in English, the types of hedging, the functions of hedging, the users of hedging, and the implication to English teaching in Indonesia.

 

 

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Nugroho, A. (2002). The contradiction of certainty and uncertainty in hedging and its implications to language teaching. K@ta, 4(1), 17-22.

 

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