Understatements and hedges in English / / Axel Hübler

• Record Nr.: UNINA9910821509703321
• Autore: Hübler Axel
• Pubbl/distr/stampa: Amsterdam ; ; Philadelphia : , : J. Benjamins, , 1983
• ISBN: 1-283-35947-2; 9786613359476; 90-272-8033-9
• Descrizione fisica: 1 online resource (202 pages) : illustrations
• Collana: Pragmatics & beyond, , 0166-6258 ; ; 4:6
• Disciplina: 420.1/9; 420.19
• Soggetti: Figures of speech; Understatement; English language - Spoken English; National characteristics, English; English language - Syntax
• Lingua di pubblicazione: Inglese
• Formato: Materiale a stampa
• Livello bibliografico: Monografia
• Note generali: Revision and translation of thesis (Habilitation)--University of Duisburg, 1981.
• Nota di bibliografia: Bibliography: p. [183]-192.
• Nota di contenuto: 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
• Sommario/riassunto: 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.