Hedging in Academic Writing

Summary

In this National University of Science and Technology video, John Karowski explores the concept of hedging in academic writing. Hedging allows researchers to contribute to scholarly dialogue without asserting absolute certainty, fostering collaboration and problem-solving. The video defines hedging, explains its importance in academic discourse, and outlines three strategies: using lexical verbs, adverbial constructions, and modal verbs to express tentativeness and invite further discussion.

Takeaways

• 📚 Hedging in academic writing is crucial for making contributions to ongoing scholarly dialogues without asserting absolute certainty.
• 🗣️ Effective use of hedging allows researchers to present their findings as part of an ongoing conversation, inviting further discussion and refinement by others.
• 💡 The concept of hedging has evolved, with early definitions focusing on reducing clarity or absoluteness, to more recent views emphasizing the expression of tentativeness and possibility.
• 🔍 Hedging strategies enable writers to avoid committing to the absolute truth of a statement, providing flexibility in language and thought.
• 🌐 Examples provided in the script illustrate how hedging can soften claims, allowing for a more nuanced and less assertive presentation of research findings.
• 🔑 Hedging is important in academic writing as it balances the need for factual reporting with the recognition that knowledge is often provisional and subject to further investigation.
• 🔄 It allows researchers to submit new arguments and claims into ongoing scholarly discussions while acknowledging the potential for other valid perspectives.
• 🎯 Hedging provides a way for researchers to make contributions to their fields in a manner that is both productive and cooperative, fostering a collaborative research environment.
• 🛠️ Three basic hedging strategies discussed include using lexical verbs, adverbial constructions, and modal verbs, each serving to introduce different levels of uncertainty or probability into claims.
• 📈 The use of modal verbs in particular can indicate the logical probability of a claim, with some verbs (like 'must') implying a stronger relationship than others (like 'might').

Q & A

What is the primary focus of all research according to the video?

The primary focus of all research is problem-solving and collaboration, often facilitated by teamwork.

How does the video define hedging in the context of academic writing?

Hedging is defined as a collection of words or language strategies that allow a writer to make a statement without implying that he or she believes it to be 100% true or the ultimate solution.

What role does hedging play in producing effective academic writing?

Hedging plays a crucial role in academic writing by allowing writers to submit new arguments and claims into ongoing dialogues while acknowledging that there might be other valid points of view, and by providing flexibility to avoid making absolute statements.

Why is it important for researchers to leave room for others to add to the dialogue in their research?

It is important for researchers to leave room for others to add to the dialogue because it promotes collaboration, allows for the refinement and reinterpretation of ideas, and acknowledges that no single study or perspective is the final word on a subject.

What are the three basic hedging strategies discussed in the video?

The three basic hedging strategies discussed are using lexical verbs, using adverbial constructions, and using modal verbs.

How does the use of lexical verbs contribute to hedging in academic writing?

Lexical verbs such as 'indicate', 'suggest', 'pose', 'appear', 'assume', 'estimate', 'argue', 'tend to', and 'doubt' contribute to hedging by allowing the writer to share findings without making absolute claims.

What is an example of hedging using adverbial constructions?

An example of hedging using adverbs is changing a statement from 'The number of unemployed people will continue to rise as the poor economic situation persists' to 'The number of unemployed people will probably continue to rise as the poor economic situation persists', where 'probably' introduces a level of uncertainty.

How do modal verbs help in hedging claims in academic writing?

Modal verbs such as 'must', 'might', 'will', 'would', 'should', 'may', 'can', and 'could' help in hedging claims by expressing the logical probability of a claim and allowing the writer to indicate less than 100% certainty.

What is the significance of using hedging to avoid categorical or absolute statements in research?

Using hedging to avoid categorical or absolute statements allows researchers to tone down their statements to reduce potential opposition and to avoid overstating results, acknowledging that their findings may not be the final word on a given issue.

How does the concept of 'confidently uncertain' relate to hedging in academic writing?

The concept of 'confidently uncertain' relates to hedging as it encourages researchers to accurately state the precision of their claims while also being comfortable with imprecision, especially when absolute precision is difficult to achieve.