THE USE OF HEDGES IN THE SECOND OBAMA-ROMNEY PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE

Abstract

This research investigates the use of hedges by the candidates of second Obama-Romney presidential debate which is held in 2012 at Hofstra University. The objectives of the research are to identify the types, functions and the impacts of the use of hedges in the debate. This research employed descriptive qualitative method. The results of the research are described as follows. (1) There are only three types of hedges used by the candidates of the debate. They are rounder, plausibility and attribution. Plausibility is the most frequent hedge to occur in the debate, while attribution is the least one. Meanwhile, adaptor cannot be found in the debate. (2) Three functions of hedges are realized in the debate. The functions are showing the speaker’s uncertainty, mitigating the force of the utterances, and avoiding taking responsibility of the information given. (3) In this debate, there are two impacts of the use of hedges by the candidates. The impacts can be positive and negative. According to the data, most of the hedges give negative impact for the candidates of the debate. The negative impact occurs because most of the hedges create uncertain statements while in fact they need to convince people with their words.

Keywords: hedge, presidential debate, Obama, Romney