Understatements and hedges in English / Axel Hübler.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hübler, Axel.

Series:

Pragmatics & beyond ; 4:6.

Pragmatics & beyond, 0166-6258 ; 4:6

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Figures of speech.

Understatement.

English language--Spoken English.

English language.

National characteristics, English.

English language--Syntax.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (202 pages) : illustrations

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Amsterdam ; Philadelphia : J. Benjamins, 1983.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The goal of this monograph is a comprehensive analysis of understatements and other forms of non-direct speech (hedges) in modern English. It is based on a multi-level approach, including philosophical, cultural, and socio-psychological arguments. The main part consists of an investigation of the linguistic restrictions for understatements and hedges to be formed by means of the following grammatical categories: negation of predicates, gradation of predicates, modalization of affirmative sentences by means of parenthetical verbs, modal adverbs, modal verbs, and questions.

Contents:

UNDERSTATEMENTSAND HEDGES IN ENGLISH; Editorial page; Title page; Table of contents; PREFACE; 0. INTRODUCTION; 1. GUIDELINES TO UNDERSTATEMENTS AND HEDGES; 1.1. The sentence and its negatability; 1.1.1. Projective character of sentences; 1.1.2. Negatability of sentences; 1.2. Liability constraints of the sentence; 1.2.1. Liability constraints and argumentation basis of the sentence; 1.2.2. Liability and indetermination; 1.2.3. Specification of the concept of indetermination; 1.3. Working definition and working perspective; 2. PHRASTIC INDETERMINATION AS A DEVICE FOR FORMING UNDERSTATEMENTS

2.1. Negation of predicates 2.1.1. Negation; 2.1.1.1. Kinds of negation; 2.1.1.2. Semantics of negation; 2.1.2. Predicates; 2.1.2.1. Delimitations; 2.1.2.2. Scalability of adjectives; 2.1.2.3. Scalability of verbs and nouns; 2.1.3. Negative predications; 2.1.3.1. Affixal negation of predicates; 2.1.3.2. Free-morpheme negation of predicates; 2.1.4. Summary; 2.2. Detensification of predicates by grading adverbs; 2.2.1. Grading; 2.2.1.1. Grading and attributive modification; 2.2.1.2. Grading and modal modification; 2.2.1.3. Adverbs of degree

2.2.1.4. Classification of (detensifying) adverbs of degree 2.2.1.5. Detensification of predicates; 2.2.1.6. Detensification and indetermination; 2.2.2. Relationship of detensified and categorical predicates; 2.2.2.1. Negativity and positivity; 2.2.2.2. Speaker's perspective; 2.2.2.3. Grammaticization and idiomaticity; 2.2.2.4. Antonymicity; 2.2.3. Summary; 3. NEUSTIC INDETERMINATION AS A DEVICE FOR FORMING HEDGES; 3.1. Factivity and modality; 3.2. Questions; 3.2.1. Question forms - assertion forms; 3.2.2. Declarative questions; 3.2.3. Biased questions and rhetorical questions

3.2.4. Tag questions 3.2.5. Hedging function of questions; 3.3. Modalized assertory assertions; 3.3.1. General characterization; 3.3.2. Repertoire of modal expressions; 3.3.2.1. Parenthetical verbs; 3.3.2.2. Modal adverbs; 3.3.2.3. Modal verbs; 3.3.2.4. Synopsis of modal expressions; 3.3.3. Assertiveness of modal expressions; 3.4. Summary; 4. COMMUNICATIVE CONDITIONS FOR UNDERSTATEMENTS AND HEDGES; 4.1. Another look at negatability of sentences; 4.2. Communication as a possible threat to face; 4.3. Understatements and hedges as face saving strategies

4.4. Face threatening acts and face saving strategies exemplified by praise and criticism 4.4.1. The socially expected norm as a criterion for praise and criticism; 4.4.2. Calculating the seriousness of the threat to face; 4.4.3. Calculating the effectiveness of face saving strategies; 4.4.4. Choosing face saving strategies; 4.4.5. Stylistic differences; 4.5. Summary; FOOTNOTES; REFERENCES

Notes:

Revision and translation of thesis (Habilitation)--University of Duisburg, 1981.

Bibliography: p. [183]-192.

ISBN:

1-283-35947-2

9786613359476

90-272-8033-9

OCLC:

769342246