Summary Details
| Query: |
'Sorry to interrupt you, but . . .'
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| Author: | Ann Jorid Klungervik | |
| Submitter Email: | click here to access email | |
| Linguistic LingField(s): |
Discourse Analysis
Pragmatics |
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| Summary: |
I would like to thank each and every one who contributed to the below list of hedging expressions. Thank you also for useful comments on the phenomenon of hedging, and for expressing interest in my project. It's been so much fun going through the mail lately. Hedging is a diverse phenomenon. English possesses an incredible amount of different ways of doing face-work. In my query I tried to specify what I was after (to the extent that I knew what I was after!). I pointed out the the type of formulaic expression I was looking for will precede a (more or less) explicit reference to a norm (maxim, in the Gricean sense), e.g. 'I don't mean to be rude' -> 'Don't be rude.' Besides referring to such norms, these types of hedge are characterized by expressing denial of intention (thanks to Clyde Davenport, Japan, for this formulation) to infringe the norm referred to, or even denial of the very fact that a norm is being infringed (E.g. I'm not going to delay you, but . . .'). The below list comprises the contributions that seem to be of this kind. (I also got quite a few borderline cases, which have helped me develop my thoughts on where to draw the lines and why. I have chosen not to include them here, though). The formulas themselves are outside the parentheses. Everything within parentheses are variable or optional elements. Where no complete utterances were given, only the formulas themselves, I have just put an X within the parentheses as a placeholder. Otherwise, I have included some of the contents of the utterances, to illustrate what kinds of norms may be alluded to ('Don't be mean,' 'Don't criticize,' etc.). I haven't yet seriously tried to draw the boundaries between the different types yet, but I'm sure you can see how they fall rather naturally into different categories: I don't intend to (be mean, etc., but . . . ) I don't want to (bother you/intrude, etc., but . . . ) I'm not going to (delay you, etc., but . . . ) I don't know if this is (relevant/interesting/of interest, etc., but . . . ) This is not meant as (criticism of you, etc., but . . . ) This may/might (be-sound-look X, but . . . ) Maybe this is (crazy, etc., but . . . ) This is going to (sound strange/odd/stupid, etc., but . . . ) I may be (wrong/stepping on some toes here, etc., but . . . ) It may not (be my place to say, etc., but . . . ) You probably think this (is-sounds crazy, etc., but . . . ) You must think (X, but . . . ) You may/might think (I'm crazy, etc., but . . . ) I probably shouldn't (say this, etc,. but . . . ) I'm sure this (probably sounds-looks X, but . . . ) Excuse me for (being-acting X, but . . . ) (Please) excuse (the interruption, etc., but . . . ) Pardon me for (saying X, but . . . ) Forgive me for (asking, etc., but . . . ) Forgive me if this (seems impertinent, etc., but . . . ) Far be it from me to (disagree with you, etc., but . . . ) I wouldn't normally dream of (saying so, etc., but . . . ) It's unlike me to (say something like this, etc., but . . . ) I hope I'm not (X, but . . . ) I hope I didn't (X, but . . . ) I hope you don't think I'm (rude, etc., but . . . ) I hope this (doesn't come across as condescending or offensive/won't X, etc., but . . . ) I hope you don't mind (my saying that X/my remarking on X, etc., but . . . ) I hope you'll excuse (my saying that X, etc., but . . . ) (I know) it's (probably not my place to say/none of my business, etc., but . . . ) I know (that) this (is-looks rather X/has already been said, etc., but . . . ) I know I'm being (X, but . . . ) I know I shouldn't (X, but . . . ) I'm afraid you'll find this (rather X, but . . . ) I ain't (tellin' you your business or nothing, but . . . ) [Mississippi, USA] Again - thank you so much. You have contributed greatly to my research. Warm regards, Ann J. ##################################################### Ann Jorid Klungervik Stipendiat NFR NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology Department of English 7055 Dragvoll NORWAY Tel.: +47 73 59 67 65 Fax.: +47 73 59 67 70 ann.jorid.klungervik@hf.ntnu.no |
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| LL Issue: | 8.553 | |
| Date Posted: | 21-Apr-1997 | |
| Original Query: | Read original query | |
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