HEDGING AND POWER DYNAMICS IN FEMALE-LED BUSINESS MEETINGS: A PRAGMATIC ANALYSIS

Abstract

This study examines how hedging could be applied during business meetings that involve females, and how they have a union with power dynamics. Though language and leadership styles have been explored extensively, there has not been much research on the exact role of hedging in the establishing of power relations in the female-led meetings. Hedging is considered to be some linguistic mechanism, used to decrease or tone down statements, and it is usually perceived as an indicator of uncertainty or powerlessness of exclamation. In a female-dominated business environment, however, hedging can perform as a power-negotiation strategy, collaboration strategy, or gendered expectation management strategy. This paper presents a qualitative analysis of discourse recorded among business meetings led by women so as to understand how hedged language is used in female-led environments and how it relates to power among women in the business setting. The results make it likely that hedging is not only an indicator of weak Authority but also a method to overcome interpersonal relationships, shape decisions within a group, and command decision. This study adds to the general knowledge of how subtly language can create power and authority in female dominated businesses. The study has pointed to the significance of the incorporation of gendered communication strategies and their bearing on the effectiveness of any type of organization.