4 Key Features of Academic Writing # 4– Use Hedging Language 學術寫作四大要訣之四：抽離
撰寫學術論文必須遵守某些特定風格和技巧的規範，雖然這些規範不至於讓創作學者寫得縛手縛腳，但某些經濟的寫作方式和表達法的限制向來被視為奉行不悖的圭臬。本專欄為撰寫學術論文的四大要訣，每項要訣都會刊登在TPS 粉絲頁，最後集結於 TPS 學術電子報。
Academic writers must conform to certain expectations about writing style and techniques. The rules are not so tight as to place a creative scholar in a straitjacket. However, certain economies of writing and constraints on expression are generally considered de rigueur. Following are four of the principal guidelines for writers of academic papers. Each part in the series will be presented on the TPS Fan page before being compiled.
4th Writing Guideline – Use Hedging Language
寫作要訣第四條：抽離
Hedging is a term that describes a writer distancing himself from what he writes. Wait a minute! That sounds a lot like imprecision! How can a writer concisely assert that a source or conclusion is valid and then vacillate about it? Strange as it sounds, this apparent dichotomy actually is quite complementary. A writer can, and should, make important points in a paper with both firmness and caution. After all, test results, experts and historical records often can be shown to produce opposite results, depending upon interpretation and circumstance. Writers need some cover.
抽離這個詞意指作者讓自己與所寫的文字保持距離。等等！這聽起來不就是不精確了嗎！作者怎麼可以簡要地主張一段出處或結論是站得住腳的，然後又自打嘴巴？聽起來很怪沒錯，但看似壁壘分明的作法其實非常相輔相成。作者可以、也應該在論文裡堅定且謹慎地闡述論點，但畢竟實驗結果、專家、過往紀錄往往都可能產生相反的結果，完全取決於不同的詮釋和情境，因此作者需要些防護措施。
Scholars produce papers for peer review and dialogue, so it is not necessary that a writer have the final word on a subject, in disciplines where finality on a subject actually is achievable. Rather, the purpose of writing an academic paper is to contribute to the body of knowledge. Therefore, a writer can assert a truth and base it on best available evidence, leaving the door open for other research on the subject. Hedging essentially invites observations on a topic and encourages additional research. Peers are not alienated by hedging, often joining in the discussion.
學者創作論文是為了接受學術圈同儕的檢視，引發討論，因此就算某些領域的某個主題最終真的可以達到共識，作者也不需要自己下最後結論。寫作學術論文的目的其實是為知識做出貢獻，因此作者可基於現有最好的證據主張某個真理，同時開放其他人針對同一主題做研究。自我抽離才能廣納更多的觀察，鼓勵後續研究。學術同儕也不會因為抽離而彼此疏遠，反而往往會一起參與討論。
Such dialogue is accomplished through phrasing. A writer displays professional humility in these phrases: “It may be possible to…” and “Such results suggest…” and “The probability is high that…” Compare those assertions to these more rigid declarations: “It proves that…” and “The results show…” and “There is little question that…” The standing of a scholar is not undermined when he uses more conciliatory language in a paper. The opposite is true. By hedging, a scholar demonstrates confidence in research and methodology—and conclusions speak for themselves.
這樣的溝通對話可以透過寫作的文字來傳達。例如作者在專業上想表達謙遜時，可以說：「或許…」、「這樣的結果意味著…」、「極有可能的是…」，相較這樣的語調與較強硬的宣稱「這證明了…」、「結果顯示…」、「幾乎可以肯定的是…」，在論文裡使用較低姿態的語氣絲毫不減損學者的身分地位，結果正好相反。藉由抽離自己，學者展現出對研究和方法論的信心，結論也就不言自明了。
Academic writers must conform to certain expectations about writing style and techniques. The rules are not so tight as to place a creative scholar in a straitjacket. However, certain economies of writing and constraints on expression are generally considered de rigueur. Following are four of the principal guidelines for writers of academic papers. Each part in the series will be presented on the TPS Fan page before being compiled.
4th Writing Guideline – Use Hedging Language
寫作要訣第四條：抽離
Hedging is a term that describes a writer distancing himself from what he writes. Wait a minute! That sounds a lot like imprecision! How can a writer concisely assert that a source or conclusion is valid and then vacillate about it? Strange as it sounds, this apparent dichotomy actually is quite complementary. A writer can, and should, make important points in a paper with both firmness and caution. After all, test results, experts and historical records often can be shown to produce opposite results, depending upon interpretation and circumstance. Writers need some cover.
抽離這個詞意指作者讓自己與所寫的文字保持距離。等等！這聽起來不就是不精確了嗎！作者怎麼可以簡要地主張一段出處或結論是站得住腳的，然後又自打嘴巴？聽起來很怪沒錯，但看似壁壘分明的作法其實非常相輔相成。作者可以、也應該在論文裡堅定且謹慎地闡述論點，但畢竟實驗結果、專家、過往紀錄往往都可能產生相反的結果，完全取決於不同的詮釋和情境，因此作者需要些防護措施。
Scholars produce papers for peer review and dialogue, so it is not necessary that a writer have the final word on a subject, in disciplines where finality on a subject actually is achievable. Rather, the purpose of writing an academic paper is to contribute to the body of knowledge. Therefore, a writer can assert a truth and base it on best available evidence, leaving the door open for other research on the subject. Hedging essentially invites observations on a topic and encourages additional research. Peers are not alienated by hedging, often joining in the discussion.
學者創作論文是為了接受學術圈同儕的檢視，引發討論，因此就算某些領域的某個主題最終真的可以達到共識，作者也不需要自己下最後結論。寫作學術論文的目的其實是為知識做出貢獻，因此作者可基於現有最好的證據主張某個真理，同時開放其他人針對同一主題做研究。自我抽離才能廣納更多的觀察，鼓勵後續研究。學術同儕也不會因為抽離而彼此疏遠，反而往往會一起參與討論。
Such dialogue is accomplished through phrasing. A writer displays professional humility in these phrases: “It may be possible to…” and “Such results suggest…” and “The probability is high that…” Compare those assertions to these more rigid declarations: “It proves that…” and “The results show…” and “There is little question that…” The standing of a scholar is not undermined when he uses more conciliatory language in a paper. The opposite is true. By hedging, a scholar demonstrates confidence in research and methodology—and conclusions speak for themselves.
這樣的溝通對話可以透過寫作的文字來傳達。例如作者在專業上想表達謙遜時，可以說：「或許…」、「這樣的結果意味著…」、「極有可能的是…」，相較這樣的語調與較強硬的宣稱「這證明了…」、「結果顯示…」、「幾乎可以肯定的是…」，在論文裡使用較低姿態的語氣絲毫不減損學者的身分地位，結果正好相反。藉由抽離自己，學者展現出對研究和方法論的信心，結論也就不言自明了。
Posted at 2014-10-24 15:03:25
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