Lingual (May 2018)
Hedges in Scientific EFL Writing
Abstract
This small research aims to see how the use of hedges is used in academic EFL writing made by Indonesian academicians. It was conducted based on the experience that for non-native English speaker like Indonesian, writing is the tough work to do. L2 learners sometimes find difficulty to write for academic purposes or make claims. One of the strategies that L2 learners do is by using hedging devices. The problem of this research is how effective hedges are used to present findings cautiously with leaving room for readers to have their own interpretation. According to Levinson (1987) with his theory of FTA (Face Treathening Act), those words mostly function as a tool for speakers or writers to make them comfortable and save negative face. It means that the writers should choose the correct words to achieve the communicative goal. The data is taken from 10 dissertations written in English. The method used is DecriptiveQualitative analysis. The study focuses on 2 kinds of hedging strategies proposed by Hyland (1996). They are writeroriented hedges and reader-oriented hedges. The first strategy consists of (1) passive voice, (2) dummy subjects, and (3) abstract rhetors. The latter consists of (1) personal attribution and (2) conditionals. The results reveal that writer-oriented hedges are the most frequent hedging device utilized by Indonesian research ers, such as: passive construction and dummy subjects. The findings reveal that the use of passive constructions and modality (can, may, might, should) are highly desireable by Indonesian researchers. It means that Indonesians like to let the data talk by themselves in order to avoid a potential conflict and hence to maintain the harmony between writers and readers.
