A discourse marker used to hedge or soften statements is best described as which type?

A discourse marker used to hedge or soften statements is best described as which type?

• A. Discourse marker (hedging)
• B. Discourse marker (appealing to shared knowledge)
• C. Appraisal language
• D. Vague language

Answer: (A)

Hedging is a strategy in communication where the speaker softens the force of a statement to reduce assertiveness or risk. A discourse marker that signals this softer stance fits this function exactly, labeling it as a discourse marker that hedges. It helps manage face and politeness by indicating uncertainty or willingness to defer certainty. The other options describe different functions: appealing to shared knowledge targets common ground rather than softness; appraisal language expresses judgment or emotion about something; and vague language relies on imprecision rather than a deliberate softening of claim strength.