Use of Hedges in Definitions: Out of Necessity or Theory-Driven?

Abstract

Language has an inventory of words and expressions (e.g. especially, sort of, loosely speaking) used to communicate that what is being said is not exactly precise or complete. Referred to as hedges, they provide support for the conception of prototypically organized categories, developed by Eleanor Rosch in the 1970s and elaborated by her followers in subsequent decades.Given the fact that hedges are extremely useful for lexicographers in defining, this paper examined the frequency and distribution of hedges in major English dictionaries over the past centuries. One of the findings of this research is the fact that, although hedges have been used in English lexicography since Johnson-1785, their use has intensified in certain dictionaries since the rise of prototype theory, suggesting that recent defining practice in these dictionaries must have been influenced by this theory. Other factors determining the use of hedges were explored. STYLEOpsomming: Die gebruik van vaaghede in definisies: Noodsaaklik of teoriegedrewe? Taal beskik oor 'n lys woorde en uitdrukkings (bv. veral, 'n soort, oor die algemeen) wat gebruik word om aan te dui dat wat gesê word nie heeltemal akkuraat of volledig is nie.Hierdie terme, wat vaaghede genoem word, verleen steun aan die voorstelling van prototipies georganiseerde kategorieë wat in die 1970's deur Eleanor Rosch ontwikkel is en deur haar volgelinge in daaropvolgende dekades verfyn is. Aangesien vaaghede uiters nuttig vir leksikograwe is tydens definiëring, is die frekwensie en verspreiding daarvan in die belangrikste Engelse woordeboeke van die afgelope eeue in hierdie artikel ondersoek. Een van die bevindings van hierdie navorsing is dat, alhoewel vaaghede sedert Johnson-1785 in Engelse leksikografie gebruik is, hul gebruik in sekere woordeboeke toegeneem het sedert die opkoms van die prototipeteorie, wat daarop dui dat onlangse defineerpraktyk(e) in hierdie woordeboeke deur dié teorie beïnvloed moes gewees het. Ander faktore wat die gebruik van vaaghede bepaal, is ook verken