模糊限制语是否能够帮助建构话语可信度､维持人际信任是当前学术界研究的热点之一。为了能够以实证的方式研究模糊限制语与可信度之间的关系,本研究选取美国总统候选人电视辩论话语作为语 料,采用定量和定性相结合的方式,探讨候选人辩论过程中使用的模糊限制语。在此基础上,研究人员选取65名英语本族语者对不同类型的模糊限制语进行信任值测试,从而调查不同类型模糊限制语的可信度。研究发现,辩论中候选人使用的模糊限制语可以分为数量模糊限制语和话题模糊限制语两种,前者的使用可以避免责任,后者使用可以表达真诚,二者均可以帮助提升辩论中候选人的可信度,建构人际信任。本研究不但 对当前模糊限制语的相关理论有所参考,同时还可以为人际信任的建构提供建议

The discussion on whether hedges can contribute to the construction of reliability and maintenance of interpersonal trust has been a hot issue in recent linguistic research. In order to map out the relation between hedges and reliability construction, this paper aims to conduct a quantitative-and-qualitative research of hedges by a self-built corpus of the U.S. presidential candidates debates. This paper explores the types and functions of hedges by using the corpus. Based on the analysis, this paper investigates the trust value of different hedges through a survey of 65 native English speakers from the U.S. It is found that hedges used by the candidates could be classified into quantity hedges and topic hedges. The main function of quantity hedges is to avoid responsibility, while the main function of topic hedges is to highlight the speaker’ s sincerity and maintain a harmonious relationship. Both of the hedges are conducive to reliability construction and maintenance of interpersonal trust. It is hoped that this paper would contribute to both the theoretical study of hedges and the practice of interpersonal trust management.