TONING DOWN STATEMENTS IN NEWSPAPER EDITORIALS

Abstract

This paper1 examines the linguistic form and function of hedges in Englishand Macedonian newspaper editorials as well as their role in the construction and attainment ofpersuasion. Hedges are interpersonal metadiscourse markers which help editorial writers to tonedown their statements and present uncertainty in their factuality thus making them more acceptablefor the readership. This study also points out the cultural differences reflected in the style of theMacedonian and American editorials’ writers. The objective of this paper is to help readers becomemore aware of the writers’ style and persuasive power as well as to point out the cultural differencesin the way writers write and readers perceive a written text.