1 MODALIZADORES EPISTÉMICOS(HEDGES)
2 “Hedges: a study in meaning criteria and the logic of fuzzy concepts” George Lakoff, 1972(Hedges: un estudio en el criterio del significado y la lógica de los conceptos borrosos). Los definió como: “palabras (o giros) cuya función es hacer las cosas más borrosas o menos borrosas”
3 ¿Qué son? Palabras o frases que protegen al emisor respecto a lo que él mismo dice (o escribe) Ejemplo: Our results seem to suggest that in less industrialized countries the extensive use of land to grow exportation products tends to impoverish these countries' populations.
4 Características Su uso es crucial en la escritura académica ya que demuestra cautela y competencia en el registro académico. Representan el 1% de todas las palabras de un texto científico (Fuente:
5 Funciones Reducir el riesgo de oposición y evitar responsabilidad por lo que se dice. Resaltar el hecho de que el escritor no tiene la palabra final sobre el tema, lo que no implica confusión o vaguedad. De esta manera el científico negocia un estado de la cuestión sobre el tema que se discute, evitando afirmaciones fuertes cuando la evidencia presentada no es determinante. Como estrategia de amabilidad, intentado aparecer modesto y evitando la arrogancia de saberlo todo. Una vez que una aseveración es aceptada por la comunidad científica, se la puede presentar sin el modalizador. Como uso convencional: el uso de modalizadores funciona ya como un estilo establecido en la escritura académica.
6 Tipos de modalizadoresAproximadores Verbos Sustantivos Adjetivos Adverbios Voz pasiva Auxiliares modales
7 Aproximadores: palabras o frases que expresan cantidades de manera vaga. El investigador no desea o no puede ser exacto en las cifras; o no quiere abrumar al lector con precisiones numéricas. Fever is present in about a third of cases. The majority of employees passed a special therapeutic additional training. After World War I and the Treaty of Versailles, there was a brutal economic disorder in which inflation was almost 40 per cent.
8 Verbos que resguardan al enunciador:Some estimates suggest that there are around 1.3 billion poor around the world who live on an income of less than $1 a day. In spite of its limitations, the study appears to have a number of important strengths. Although the reason for this increased risk is still under investigation, researchers speculate that immune system cells that are activated at chlamydia [...] Si se combinan con un verbo modal, enfatizan el hecho de cortesía y de resguardo del emisor: A study of the regulations could reveal certain gaps that need to be filled.
9 Adverbios modalizadores: pueden aparecer modificando un adjetivo, un verbo u otro adverbio; o modificando todo un enunciado. However, the economic arguments are probably the most important in explaining their actions. Conceivably, the law could attempt to mirror the strict security measures that are used in communication between computers. Most of those guidelines are fully valid, and it is extremely difficult to propose a synthesis. But by far the greatest use of dams is to supply irrigation water for agriculture.
10 Sustantivos, que en general suelen ser nominalizaciones:This model has been developed on the assumption that there will be joint trials for multiple accused persons. It follows that the Dirac equation is a first approximation to a more accurate equation still unknown. An interest of 3% of capital or shares in a company can be used as an approximate estimate.
11 Adjetivos evaluativos, que modifican al sustantivo calificándolo y precisando su significado.President Lula launched his proposal at an appropriate moment: on 4 March 2008, during the diplomatic crisis between Colombia and Ecuador. Global warming will exert significant effects on biodiversity, the rise in sea level and the loss of the polar ice caps. With the finishing line in sight, however, intense discussions have now broken out about the details of the institutional framework.
12 La voz pasiva como hedgeSu principal finalidad es ocultar al emisor. Casi siempre se omite el complemento agente porque representa justamente lo que no desea manifestarse. Se mitiga la acción del ejecutor por modestia o cortesía, o porque resulta obvio que el interés está en el hecho y no en quien lo realizó. Se forma: verbo be conjugado + participio del verbo principal
13 At the same time it was proposed to introduce the possibility for a vaccination against the disease. Instead, an effective method for child discipline and education has been considered. Furthermore, wide variations have been observed in the access to health care. In some cases, the Israeli army was reported to have been involved.
14 Los verbos modales como hedgesEn general, expresan: Can: habilidad, legitimidad May, might, could: posibilidad, falta de certeza Will: futuro, certeza, conclusión Would: condición, predicción, ser hipotético Should: consejo, obligación Must: obligación, necesidad lógica Equivalentes semánticos: be able to (equivalente de can), have to y ought to (equivalentes de must)
15 The surveys indicate that this might reflect a lack of information and market transparency. It would be possible to develop that process further in order also to address the concerns of business. The decline in investment could be associated with a number of factors. For a better understanding of the Public Servants Welfare System, we must analyze it from a historical, social and political point of view. Countries in a position to do so should consider the possibility to expand such arrangements.