论低调陈述的语言特点及其语用功能

低调陈述具有三个典型语言特点。认知语法认为规约性低调陈述是语用因素习惯化、语法化的主要表现形式之一;非规约性低调陈述是一种以词或句子为焦点、以语境为框架的语用现象,认知语境是确认和理解低调陈述的主要依据。从社会心理学来说,低调陈述产生于面子需求,是用温和言辞避免正面冲突、保全双方面子的语用策略,是语言使用中人们协调人际关系的一个重要手段。用礼貌理论的框架来分析,低调陈述具有变动性、缓和性、认同性和补偿性四种语用功能。

On the Nature and Pragmatic Functions of Understatement

The paper discusses the semantic features of understatement. According to cognitive science,conventional understatement is a cognitive grammatical unit. To understand non-conventional understatement,inference is to be called for and made on the basis of knowledge accessed from cognitive context. From the perspective of socio-psychology,understatement,an important means to coordinate human relationship in communication,comes into use out of face need. Softened words are adopted to give partners and oneself out. Then resorting to the Politeness Theory,the paper scrutinizes the pragmatic functions of understatement:altering the truth value of the sentence,muting the force of one's meanings,increasing the hearer's approval,achieving the protectiveness of the hearer.