Hedging language
In the video on the previous step, people were giving their opinion on a controversial question. You may have noticed that the people used a lot of tentative language in their answers – this is very common in spoken English and is called hedging language.
Let’s look at some examples:
No, I think it should be, maybe, limited.
There has to be hard evidence that they are maybe committing or threatening to commit certain terrorist crimes.
But when it goes to corporal punishment, that …there should be a law about that but then again, it’s up to the parents.
I don’t think it’s right, but then again, they can’t stop you, exactly.
To an extent, I think.
This speaker thinks the state should – but will not commit himself to the idea totally. To an extent means that you think something is partly, but not completely, true.
So, why do we use hedging language in English? Well, we mainly use hedging language to sound polite when we are expressing our ideas about things.
Can you think of any other examples of hedging language?
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