Hedging devices used in english speeches by president joseph biden on the covid 19

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING QUY NHON UNIVERSITY PHAN THỊ CẨM TÚ HEDGING DEVICES USED IN ENGLISH SPEECHES BY PRESIDENT JOSEPH BIDEN ON THE COVID-19 Field: English Linguistics Code: 22 02 01 Supervisor: Bùi Thị Đào, Ph.D BỘ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC QUY NHƠN PHAN THỊ CẨM TÚ CÁC PHƯƠNG TIỆN RÀO ĐÓN TRONG CÁC BÀI PHÁT BIỂU TIẾNG ANH CỦA TỔNG THỐNG JOSEPH BIDEN VỀ COVID 19 Chuyên ngành : Ngôn ngữ Anh Mã số: 22 02 01 Người hướng dẫn: TS Bùi Thị Đào i STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP I hereby declare that I am the sole author of the MA thesis entitled ―Hedging devices used in English speeches by President Joseph Biden on the Covid -19‖ The thesis contains no material published elsewhere or written by other people except where reference is made in the text of the thesis Moreover, this research has not been submitted for any other degree or diploma at any university Quy Nhon, 2022 PHAN THỊ CẨM TÚ ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The completion of this study is the result of not only my efforts but also other assistance of individuals to whom I would like to express my special gratitude Firstly, I am deeply grateful to my supervisor, Dr Bùi Thị Đào, who has supported me with her endless patience, thoughtful guidance and comprehensive advice during the whole period of the study Without her instructions, this thesis would have been impossible to be completed Secondly, I am also thankful to all the lecturers of the courses for their valuable lectures and experiences, which provide essential knowledge for this thesis Thirdly, my gratitude is devoted to my colleagues and close friends for their kind support and warm encouragement, without which I could not have overcome all the trouble during the fulfilment of this study Finally, I owe my whole family a debt of gratitude, especially my parents, who always stand by me and provide me with emotional support and great care while my thesis was in process and have helped me overcome many unexpected difficulties during the course and the thesis This accomplishment would not have been possible without them iii ABSTRACT Based on Salager-Meyer‘s classification framework, the present study aimed to investigate the linguistic devices which act as hedges used in 10 speeches made by President Joseph Biden on COVID-19 The main purpose of the study is to explore kinds of hedging devices in speeches to find out the most dominant type of hedging devices and the frequencies of the hedging devices are identified in the speeches of the President Joseph Biden experience the world in COVID-19 The study is a combination of qualitative, quantitative, descriptive, analytic, and synthetic method The results indicate that modal auxiliaries verbs, which is the most frequently used hedging device in President Joseph Biden‘s speeches and the most frequently used hedging device subcategory is the modal auxiliary ―will‖ The findings of the study could serve as data for further understanding To learners, this kind of hedging devices is proved to be one of the effective instruments for improving their English skills in general and in communication in particular iv TABLE OF CONTENTS STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ii ABSTRACT iii TABLE OF CONTENTS iv ABBREVIATIONS AND CONVENTIONS vi LIST OF TABLES vii LIST OF FIGURE viii CHAPTER INTRODUCTION 1.1 RATIONALE 1.2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVE 1.2.1 Aims 1.2.2 Objective 1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS 1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY 1.5 SCOPE OF THE STUDY 1.6 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY CHAPTER LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 AN OVERVIEW OF HEDGES AND PREVIOUS STUDIES 2.2 DEFINITIONS OF HEDGES 12 2.3 TYPES OF HEDGES 15 2.3.1 Modal auxiliary verbs 20 2.3.2 Modal lexical verbs 21 2.3.3 Adjectival, adverbial and nominal modal phrases 22 2.3.4 Approximators of degree, quantity, frequency and time 25 2.3.5 Introductory phrases 26 v 2.3.6 If clauses 28 2.3.7 Compound hedges 29 2.4 SUMMARY 31 CHAPTER METHODOLOGY 32 3.1 RESEARCH METHODS 32 3.2 DESCRIPTION OF DATA 32 3.3 DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURES 33 3.4 DATA ANALYSIS 33 3.5 VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY 35 3.6 SUMMARY 36 CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION 37 4.1 AN OVERVIEW HEDGING DEVICES TYPES EXPLORED FROM THE DATA 37 4.1.1 Modal auxiliary verbs 39 4.1.2 Modal lexical verbs 42 4.1.3 Adjectival, adverbial and nominal modal phrases 44 4.1.4 Approximators of degree, quantity, frequency and time 47 4.1.5 Introductory phrases 50 4.1.6 If clauses 53 4.2 SUMMARY 54 CHAPTER CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS 55 5.1 REVIEW OF FINDINGS IN THE STUDY 55 5.2 IMPLICATIONS 56 5.3 LIMITATIONS FOR FURTHER STUDIES 58 5.4 SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDIES 59 REFERENCES 61 APPENDIXES vi ABBREVIATIONS AND CONVENTIONS (a) Abbreviations Adj.: Adjective Adv.: Adverbs HD: Hedging devices AFT.: Approximators of degree, quantity, frequency and time (b) Conventions - Boldface is used to mark the first use of technical terms - Italics are used for examples, emphasis, and technical terms vii LIST OF TABLES Table 2.1 The categories and some examples of hedging words 19 Table Distribution of Hedging types 37 Table Frequency and percentages of modal auxiliaries 39 Table Frequency and percentages of modal lexical verbs 42 Table 4 Frequency and percentages of adjectival, adverbial and nominal modal phrases 44 Table 4.5 Frequency and percentage of approximators concerning degree, quantity, frequency and time 47 Table 4.6 Frequency and percentages of introductory phrases 50 Table 4.7 Frequency and percentages of if clauses 53 viii LIST OF FIGURE Figure 2.1 Set model for modal verbs, auxiliary verbs and verbs 21 Figure Distribution of Hedging types 38 Figure Frequency and percentages of modal auxiliaries 40 Figure Frequency and percentages of modal lexical verbs 43 Figure 4 Frequency and percentages of adjectival, adverbial and nominal modal phrases 45 Figure 4.5 Frequency and percentage of approximators concerning degree, quantity, frequency and time 48 Figure 4.6 Frequency and percentages of introductory phrases 51 AP 10 [111] The United States will also keep working with like-minded partners around the world to press China to participate in a full, transparent, evidence-based international investigation and to provide access to all relevant data and evidence [112] As long as this pandemic is raging anywhere in the world, the American people will still be vulnerable [113] We have already shared more than million doses of vaccine with Canada and Mexico, and last month, I announced that, by the end of June, the United States will share 80 million doses of our vaccine supply with the world [114] Today, we‘re providing more detail on how we will allocate the first 25 million of those vaccines to lay the ground for increased global coverage and to address real and potential surges, high burdens of disease, and the needs of the most vulnerable countries [115] At least 75 percent of these doses nearly 19 million will be shared through COVAX, including approximately million doses for Latin America and the Caribbean, approximately million for South and Southeast Asia, and approximately million for Africa, working in coordination with the African Union and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention [116] The remaining doses, just over million, will be shared directly with countries experiencing surges, those in crisis, and other partners and neighbors, including Canada, Mexico, India, and the Republic of Korea [117] And we will continue to follow the science and to work in close cooperation with our democratic partners to coordinate a multilateral effort, including through the G7 AP 11 [118] The United States will be the world‘s arsenal of vaccines in our shared fight against this virus [119] In the days to come, as we draw on the experience of distributing the vaccine doses announced today, we will have more details to provide about how future doses will be shared [120] And we will continue to all we can to build a world that is safer and more secure against the threat of infectious disease [121] The Fourth of July is a sacred day in our country a day of history, of hope, remembrance and resolve, of promise and possibilities [122] Just think back to where this nation was a year ago [123] Think back to where you were a year ago [124] And think about how far we‘ve come [125] We‘re seeing record job creation and record economic growth the best in four decades and, I might add, the best in the world [126] Today, all across this nation, we can say with confidence: America is coming back together (Applause.) [127] We can live our lives, our kids can go back to school, our economy is roaring back [128] We all know powerful variants have emerged, like the Delta variant, but the best defense against these variants is to get vaccinated (Applause.) [129] My fellow Americans, it‘s the most patriotic thing you can [130] So, please, if you haven‘t gotten vaccinated, it it now for yourself, for your loved ones, for your community, and for your country [131] You know, that‘s how we‘re going to stay ahead of these variants and protect the hard-won progress we‘ve made AP 12 [132] So, today, while the virus hasn‘t been vanquished, we know this: It no longer controls our lives [133] And it‘s within our power to make sure it never does again [134] And for that, we can thank the scientists and researchers, the educators, and all the other frontline and essential workers, like many of you here today who became the light to see us through the darkness [135] I hope you know that you, the American people, have been part of one of the most remarkable achievements in American history [136] But in this moment of joy, we know that this day falls hard on all those who‘ve lost a loved one [137] And those of you who‘ve been through all this know that to heal, you have to remember [138] We have to remember them, and we will We’ll commit to always remember them [139] That‘s what we‘ll [140] And while we‘ve never fully lived up to those words, we have never given up on them [141] They continue to animate us, and they remind us what, at our best, we as Americans believe: We, Americans, we believe in honesty and decency, in treating everyone with dignity and respect, giving everyone a fair shot, demonizing no one, giving hate no safe harbor, and leaving no one behind [142] Like so many military families thinking of your loved ones who served, we think of our son Beau today [143] The right (applause) the right to breathe clean air, drink clean water, and know that our children and grandchildren will be safe on this planet for generations to come (applause); the right to rise in the world AP 13 as far as your God-given calent [talent] can take you, unlimited by barriers of privilege or power [144] One of the great gifts of the spirit of independence and think about this: One of the great gifts is our capacity to see ourselves whole and see ourselves honestly what we‘ve gotten right, what we‘ve gotten wrong [145] You know, history tells us that when we stand together, when we unite in common cause, when we see ourselves not as Republicans or Democrats, but as Americans, then there‘s simply no limit to what we can achieve [146] Together, we will rescue our people from division and despair [147] But together we must it [148] Now I truly believe I give you my word as a Biden I truly believe we‘re about to see our brightest future (Applause.) [149] It‘s up to us to save it, to preserve it, to build on it, and I know we will (Applause.) [150] On this sacred day, I look out to those monuments on our National Mall and beyond them, into the hearts of our people across the land, and I know this: [151] We are the United States of America, and there‘s nothing nothing we can‘t if we it together (Applause.) [152] I am grateful for the thorough, careful, and objective work of our intelligence professionals, and while this review has concluded, our efforts to understand the origins of this pandemic will not rest [153] We will everything we can to trace the roots of this outbreak that has caused so much pain and death around the world, so that we can take every necessary precaution to prevent it from happening again AP 14 [154] The world deserves answers, and I will not rest until we get them Responsible nations not shirk these kinds of responsibilities to the rest of the world [155] Pandemics not respect international borders, and we all must better understand how COVID-19 came to be in order to prevent further pandemics [156] The United States will continue working with like-minded partners around the world to press the PRC to fully share information and to cooperate with the World Health [157] We will also continue to press the PRC to adhere to scientific norms and standards, including sharing information and data from the earliest days of the pandemic, protocols related to biosafety, and information from animal populations [158] We must have a full and transparent accounting of this global tragedy Nothing less is acceptable [159] And it starts with understanding this: Even as the Delta variant 19 [sic] has COVID-19 has been hitting this country hard, we have the tools to combat the virus, if we can come together as a country and use those tools [160] If we raise our vaccination rate, protect ourselves and others with masking and expanded testing, and identify people who are infected, we can and we will turn the tide on COVID-19 [161] It will take a lot of hard work, and it‘s going to take some time [162] Many of us are frustrated with the nearly 80 million Americans who are still not vaccinated, even though the vaccine is safe, effective, and free [163] You might be confused about what is true and what is false about COVID-19 AP 15 [164] When I became President, about million Americans were fully vaccinated [165] Today, over 175 million Americans have that protection [166] The week before I took office, on January 20th of this year, over 25,000 Americans died that week from COVID-19 [167] We‘re in a tough stretch, and it could last for a while [168] While the vaccines provide strong protections for the vaccinated, we read about, we hear about, and we see the stories of hospitalized people, people on their death beds, among the unvaccinated over these past few weeks [169] And it‘s caused by the fact that despite America having an unprecedented and successful vaccination program, despite the fact that for almost five months free vaccines have been available in 80,000 different locations, we still have nearly 80 million Americans who have failed to get the shot [170] Third, if you wonder how all this adds up, here‘s the math: The vast majority of Americans are doing the right thing Nearly three quarters of the eligible have gotten at least one shot, but one quarter has not gotten any [171] That‘s nearly 80 million Americans not vaccinated [172] That 25 percent can cause a lot of damage and they are [173] I know there‘s a lot of confusion and misinformation [174] But the world‘s leading scientists confirm that if you are fully vaccinated, your risk of severe illness from COVID-19 is very low [175] So here‘s where we stand: The path ahead, even with the Delta variant, is not nearly as bad as last winter AP 16 [176] We cannot allow these actions to stand in the way of protecting the large majority of Americans who have done their part and want to get back to life as normal [177] My plan also increases testing, protects our economy, and will make our kids safer in schools [178] It consists of six broad areas of action and many specific measures in each that and each of those actions that you can read more about at WhiteHouse.gov [179] But if we implement them, I believe and the scientists indicate, that in the months ahead we can reduce the number of unvaccinated Americans, decrease hospitalizations and deaths, and allow our children to go to school safely and keep our economy strong by keeping businesses open [180] First, we must increase vaccinations among the unvaccinated with new vaccination requirements [181] Of the nearly 80 million eligible Americans who have not gotten vaccinated, many said they were waiting for approval from the Food and Drug Administration the FDA [182] So, tonight, I‘m announcing that the Department of Labor is developing an emergency rule to require all employers with 100 or more employees, that together employ over 80 million workers, to ensure their workforces are fully vaccinated or show a negative test at least once a week [183] My plan will extend the vaccination requirements that I previously issued in the healthcare field [184] Already, I‘ve announced, we‘ll be requiring vaccinations that all nursing home workers who treat patients on Medicare and Medicaid, because I have that federal authority AP 17 [185] If you‘re seeking care at a health facility, you should be able to know that the people treating you are vaccinated Simple Straightforward Period [186] Next, I will sign an executive order that will now require all executive branch federal employees to be vaccinated all [187] And I‘ve signed another executive order that will require federal contractors to the same [188] If you want to work with the federal government and business with us, get vaccinated [189] If you want to business with the federal government, vaccinate your workforce [190] The Department of Labor will require employers with 100 or more workers to give those workers paid time off to get vaccinated [191] No one should lose pay in order to get vaccinated or take a loved one to get vaccinated [192] Today, in total, the vaccine requirements in my plan will affect about 100 million Americans two thirds of all workers [193] You may be the one person who can get someone to change their mind about being vaccinated [194] Over 200 million Americans have gotten at least one shot [195] But just don‘t take it from me; listen to the voices of unvaccinated Americans who are lying in hospital beds, taking their final breaths, saying, ―If only I had gotten vaccinated.‖ ―If only.‖ [196] But as the science makes clear, if you‘re fully vaccinated, you‘re highly protected from severe illness, even if you get COVID-19 [197] You‘re as safe as possible, and we‘re doing everything we can to keep it that way keep it that way, keep you safe [198] Now, I know there‘s been some confusion about boosters AP 18 [199] They believe that a booster is likely to provide the highest level of protection yet [200] Of course, the decision of which booster shots to give, when to start them, and who will give them, will be left completely to the scientists at the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control [201] As soon as they are authorized, those eligible will be able to get a booster right away in tens of thousands of site across the sites across the country for most Americans, at your nearby drug store, and for free [202] The third piece of my plan is keeping - and maybe the most important is keeping our children safe and our schools open [203] Trust me, I know [204] As with adults, almost all the serious COVID-19 cases we‘re seeing among adolescents are in unvaccinated 12- to 17-year-olds an age group that lags behind in vaccination rates [205] Every parent, every teen sibling, every caregiver around them should be vaccinated [206] Children have four times higher chance of getting hospitalized if they live in a state with low vaccination rates rather than the states with high vaccination rates [207] Now, if you‘re a parent of a young child, you‘re wondering when will it be when will it be -the vaccine available for them [208] We can‘t take shortcuts with that scientific work [209] But I‘ve made it clear I will everything within my power to support the FDA with any resource it needs to continue to this as safely and as quickly as possible, and our nation‘s top doctors are committed to keeping the public at large updated on the process so parents can plan AP 19 [210] We know that if schools follow the science and implement the safety measures like testing, masking, adequate ventilation systems that we provided the money for, social distancing, and then children can be safe from COVID-19 in schools [211] Today, about 90 percent of school staff and teachers are vaccinated [212] We should get that to 100 percent [213] Tonight, I‘m announcing that we‘ll require all of nearly 300,000 educators in the federal paid program, Head Start program, must be vaccinated as well to protect your youngest our youngest most precious Americans and give parents the comfort [214] And to all school officials trying to the right thing by our children: I‘ll always be on your side [215] If they’ll not help if these governors won‘t help us beat the pandemic, I‘ll use my power as President to get them out of the way [216] Any teacher or school official whose pay is withheld for doing the right thing, we will have that pay restored by the federal government 100 percent [217] I promise you I will have your back [218] I‘m taking steps tonight to make testing more available, more affordable, and more convenient [219] I‘ll use the Defense Production Act to increase production of rapid tests, including those that you can use at home [220] While that production is ramping up, my administration has worked with top retailers, like Walmart, Amazon, and Kroger‘s, and tonight we‘re announcing that, no later than next week, each of these outlets will start to sell at-home rapid test kits at cost for the next three months AP 20 [221] We’ll also expand expand free testing at 10,000 pharmacies around the country [222] And we‘ll commit we‘re committing $2 billion to purchase nearly 300 million rapid tests for distribution to community health centers, food banks, schools, so that every American, no matter their income, can access free and convenient tests [223] You’ll be able to test them at home and test those around them (226) In addition to testing, we know masking helps stop the spread of COVID-19 [224] Today tonight, I‘m announcing that the Transportation Safety Administration the TSA will double the fines on travelers that refuse to mask [225] If you break the rules, be prepared to pay [226] We cannot let unvaccinated this progress -undo it, turn it back [227] We‘ll be expanding COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan programs [228] That‘s a program that‘s going to allow small businesses to borrow up to $2 million from the current $500,000 to keep going if COVID-19 impacts on their sales [229] These low-interest, long-term loans require no repayment for two years and be can used to hire and retain workers, purchase inventory, or even pay down higher cost debt racked up since the pandemic began [230] I‘ll also be taking additional steps to help small businesses stay afloat during the pandemic [231] Since then, the federal government has deployed nearly 1,000 staff, including doctors, nurses, paramedics, into 18 states AP 21 [232] Today, I‘m announcing that the Defense Department will double the number of military health teams that they‘ll deploy to help their fellow Americans in hospitals around the country [233] Tonight, I‘m announcing we will increase the average pace of shipment across the country of free monoclonal antibody treatments by another 50 percent [234] And as we continue to battle COVID-19, we will ensure that equity continues to be at the center of our response We’ll ensure that everyone is reached [235] We also know this virus transcends borders [236] We‘re proud to have donated nearly 140 million vaccines over 90 countries, more than all other countries combined, including Europe, China, and Russia combined [237] And I‘ll be announcing additional steps to help the rest of the world later this month [238] As I recently released the key parts of my pandemic preparedness plan so that America isn‘t caught flat-footed when a new pandemic comes again as it will next month, I‘m also going to release the plan in greater detail [239] Look, we‘re the United States of America There‘s nothing not a single thing we‘re unable to if we it together [240] God bless you all and all those who continue to serve on the frontlines of this pandemic And may God protect our troops [241] Over the past two weeks, most of the country has improved as well [242] We‘re down to 66 million it‘s still an unacceptably high number of unvaccinated people from almost 100 million in July AP 22 [243] Businesses and organizations that are implementing requirements are seeing their vaccination rates rise by an average of 20 percent or more to well over 90 percent the number of employees vaccinated [244] Let‘s be clear: Vaccination requirements should not be another issue that divides us [245] Southwest Airlines at the head of the pilot the head of the pilot‘s union and its CEO dismissed critics who claim vaccination mandates contributed to flight disruptions [246] If they authorize the boosters, which will be strictly made based on the science that decision will be based on the science [247] This will mean all three vaccines will be available for boosters [248] Already, more than out of eligible seniors have gotten their third shot the booster [249] I‘ll say it again: They‘re free, available, and convenient to get [250] Now, I know parents out there are anxiously waiting for a vaccine for children ages to 11 [251] The good news is the FDA and outside experts from the CDC are set to make its determination as to whether the vaccine will be authorized for that age range in the next few weeks [252] If authorized, we are ready [253] It will be- it will be convenient for parents to get their children vaccinated at trusted locations, and families will be able to sleep easier at night knowing their kids are protected as well [254] We have critical work to do, but we can’t let up now [255] My team and I are doing everything we can [256] But I‘m calling on more businesses to step up AP 23 [257] I‘m calling on more parents to get their children vaccinated when they are eligible And I‘m asking everyone -everyone who hasn‘t gotten vaccinated: Please get vaccinated [258] That‘s how we put this pandemic behind us and accelerate our economic recovery We can this [259] I‘ve said many times: God bless you all, and may God protect our troops [260] There is light at the end of the tunnel, but we cannot let our guard down now or assume that victory is inevitable [261] In fact, recent data indicates there is only one confirmed positive case per 5,000 fully vaccinated Americans per day [262] One of the things I suggested to is - we talked about China and the competition they‘re engaging in in the Belt and Road Initiative [263] And I suggested we should have, essentially, a similar initiative coming from the democratic states, helping those communities around the world that, in fact, need help [264] But just as our Declaration in 1776 was not a call to action - was a call to action, not a reason for complacency or a claim of victory - it was a call to action - the same is true today [265] The Fourth of July is a sacred day in our country - a day of history, of hope, remembrance and resolve, of promise and possibilities [266] The first reason, quite simply, is to keep you from getting very sick or dying [267] Some of the biggest companies are already requiring this: United Airlines, Disney, Tysons Food, and even Fox News [268] That‘s why it‘s never gathered dust in our history books [269] On September 9, he extended this requirement to the more than 17 million health care workers in hospitals, home health care facilities, or AP 24 other medical facilities [270] ―If a federal worker fails to comply, they will go through the standard HR process, which includes counseling, and face disciplinary action face progressive disciplinary action,‖ Psaki stated [271] “If you‘re seeking care at a health facility, you should be able to know that the people treating you are vaccinated,‖ Biden stated [272] But it will start to be applied once the executive order is signed.‖ [273] ―I believe and the scientists indicate, that in the months ahead we can reduce the number of unvaccinated Americans, decrease hospitalizations and deaths, and allow our children to go to school safely and keep our economy strong by keeping businesses open,‖ [274] President Biden announced that the Department of Labor is currently developing an emergency rule that will require all private-sector employers with 100 or more employees to ensure that their workforce is vaccinated, or present a negative COVID-19 test at least once weekly [275] ―No one should lose pay in order to get vaccinated or take a loved one to get vaccinated,‖ President Biden said [276] Biden added that together, these businesses employ over 80 million workers, and some of the biggest companies, United Airlines, Disney, Tysons Food, and even Fox News, already require employees to be vaccinated [277] ―I‘m announcing that we’ll require all of nearly 300,000 educators in the federal paid program, Head Start program, must be vaccinated as well to protect your youngest - our youngest - most precious Americans and give parents the comfort‖ [278] Today, about 90 percent of school staff and teachers are vaccinated We should get that to 100% ... to find out the most dominant type of hedging devices and the frequencies of the hedging devices are identified in the speeches of the President Joseph Biden experience the world in COVID- 19 The. .. Joseph Biden on the COVID- 19 This study also tries to find out the frequency of occurrences of these hedging devices in speeches by President Joseph Biden on the COVID- 19 In the study, the data is... hereby declare that I am the sole author of the MA thesis entitled ? ?Hedging devices used in English speeches by President Joseph Biden on the Covid -19? ?? The thesis contains no material published