Hedging Language

Article excerpt · target grammar marked

Ambady called this phenomenon 'thin-slicing': it would be tempting to dismiss this as a curious psychological trick, yet it could be argued that the implications run deeper.

Grammar Reference · Hedging Language

Modal hedge

It might be the case that first impressions mislead us. — softens certainty with possibility, not fact.

Lexical hedge

The results were, to some extent, unexpected. — limits how strongly a claim is made.

Distancing

It has been argued that competence is overrated. — attributes a claim without full personal commitment.

Approximator

Ratings matched almost exactly within two seconds. — avoids an overly precise, possibly false claim.

01Exercise 1 — Form · Write the Correct Form

Hedging Language

1. be said that first impressions are unreliable guides to real competence.

2.The lecturers' ratings were, an extent, shaped by appearance alone.

3.It has been that rapid judgement once had survival value.

4.The two groups' scores matched perfectly, researchers noted.

5., it would appear that thin-slicing is both useful and risky.

6.A cold first impression change, given enough new evidence.

02Exercise 2 — Transform

rewrite with the new structure

1.First impressions are unreliable.

2.Thin-slicing helped our ancestors survive.

3.Competence matters less than appearance.

4.A bad first impression cannot change.

03Exercise 3 — About You

in your notebook

Personalise: complete five sentences about yourself using the target grammar.

Hedging Language01classplan.ai