The use of hedging utterance of women and men in critical context

Abstract

Abstract This research examines the functions of hedging utterances used by women and men in the context of criticism. By using the group interviews conducted with female and male university students, the results of the study revealed that both women and men use hedges for 3 main purposes which are 1) to show the speakers‟ hesitation to information conveyed, 2) to show the speakers‟ confidence, that is listeners understand what speakers said, therefore; the speakers don‟t have to speak clearly, and 3) to decrease face-threatening of the interlocutors since the speakers know how inappropriate of their expression are when criticism other people. Women mostly use hedges for showing their confidence. Men, in the other hand, largely use hedges for showing their hesitation to the information conveyed. Overall, the use of hedges in men is more likely than women to maintain their individual. In contrast, women are more likely to use hedges for maintaining conversations than the other way around. Keywords: hedge, criticism, gender Identity