A Study on the Acquisition of Hedges in Chinese College Students’ English Writing Under the Complex System Framework

Hedges, as a typical and universal linguistic phenomenon, are one of the important factors affecting the quality of Chinese college students' English writing. Therefore, the ability to use hedges properly is helpful for Chinese college students to improve their English writing. Based on the Written English Corpus of Chinese Learners (WECCL), this study investigates the use of hedges in Chinese English learners' writing and finds that Chinese English learners have a limited grasp of hedge types, with a small number and frequent misuse or overuse of more difficult hedges. Applying Complex System Theory, the study points out through quantitative analysis that: 1) The use of hedges in Chinese English learners' writing varies across genres; 2) Learners' second language proficiency is significantly positively correlated with the use of hedges; 3) The semantic transparency and frequency of hedges interactively influence their use. The findings of this study provide insights into English writing practice and teaching.