Fiche à imprimer : Hedging : nuancer son argumentation (Tle)

Anglais	Français
It seems that...	Il semble que...
Arguably,...	On peut soutenir que...
To some extent,...	Dans une certaine mesure,...
Teenagers tend to...	Les adolescents ont tendance à...
It could be argued that...	On pourrait faire valoir que...
This may be due to...	Cela pourrait être dû à...

Dans un essai ou un débat, les affirmations trop catégoriques (All teenagers are addicted to their phones!) affaiblissent un argument. Les anglophones utilisent le hedging pour nuancer : Many teenagers seem to spend too much time on their phones. Outils principaux : les verbes seem, appear, tend to ; les modaux may, might, could ; les adverbes arguably, probably, to some extent ; les formules impersonnelles It could be argued that..., It is often claimed that... Nuancer, ce n'est pas manquer de conviction : c'est montrer qu'on raisonne avec précision.

Mise en situation : la correction de l'essai

Teacher : Your essay says: 'Social media destroys democracy.' Is that always true?

Ton essai dit : « Les réseaux sociaux détruisent la démocratie. » Est-ce toujours vrai ?

Leo : Well... not always, I suppose.

Eh bien... pas toujours, je suppose.

Teacher : So how could you hedge it?

Alors comment pourrais-tu nuancer ?

Leo : 'Social media may weaken democracy in some cases.'

« Les réseaux sociaux peuvent affaiblir la démocratie dans certains cas. »

Teacher : Better! You could also write: 'It could be argued that social media tends to polarise opinions.'

Mieux ! Tu pourrais aussi écrire : « On pourrait faire valoir que les réseaux sociaux ont tendance à polariser les opinions. »

Leo : It sounds more convincing, actually.

Ça paraît plus convaincant, en fait.

À retenir

It seems that... Arguably... To some extent... tend to... may / might / could...
It could be argued that... This may be due to... In some cases...

Exercice 1 : Nuancer son propos : exercice 1 (QCM)

« Il semble que... »
1. It seems what...
2. It seems that...
3. It's seeming that...
« dans une certaine mesure »
1. to some extend
2. at some extent
3. to some extent
« avoir tendance à »
1. to tend to
2. to attend to
3. to tend at
« On pourrait faire valoir que... »
1. It can be arguing that...
2. It could argue that...
3. It could be argued that...
Phrase la plus nuancée :
1. Social media destroys democracy.
2. Social media always destroys everything.
3. Social media may weaken democracy in some cases.
« On peut soutenir que... » (adverbe)
1. Arguably,...
2. Argumentally,...
3. Arguing,...
Teenagers ___ spend a lot of time online. (nuance)
1. tend to
2. must
3. always
« Cela pourrait être dû à... »
1. This may be due of...
2. This may due to...
3. This may be due to...
Le hedging sert à...
1. éviter de répondre
2. être plus agressif
3. nuancer pour être plus convaincant
« dans certains cas »
1. in some cases
2. in some case
3. on some cases

Exercice 2 : Nuancer son propos : exercice 2 (à compléter)

It .......................... that young people read less.
To some .......................... , this is true.
Teenagers .......................... to use social media every day.
It could be .......................... that technology isolates people.
This .......................... be due to economic factors.
.......................... , it is the biggest challenge of our time.
In some .......................... , the opposite is true.
It is often .......................... that money brings happiness.
The results .......................... to confirm this theory.
This .......................... explain the increase.

Exercice 3 : Nuancer son propos : mise en situation

Tu nuances « Tous les ados sont accros ».
1. Many teenagers seem to spend too much time on their phones.
2. Teenagers is always addicted.
3. All teenagers are addicted to their phones.
Tu introduis un argument de façon impersonnelle.
1. It could argue that...
2. I know that everybody...
3. It could be argued that...
Tu limites la portée de ton affirmation.
1. To some extent, this is true.
2. To some extend, this is true.
3. At some extent, this is true.
Tu proposes une cause possible.
1. This may be due of the economic crisis.
2. This may be due to the economic crisis.
3. This may due to the economic crisis.
Tu dis que les résultats semblent confirmer la théorie.
1. The results appears to confirm the theory.
2. The results appear to confirm the theory.
3. The results appear confirming the theory.
Tu exprimes une tendance.
1. Young people tend read less.
2. Young people tends to read less.
3. Young people tend to read less.
Tu reconnais une exception.
1. In some case, the opposite is true.
2. In some cases, the opposite is true.
3. On some cases the opposite are true.
Tu avances une opinion forte mais défendable.
1. Arguably, it is the biggest challenge of our time.
2. Argumentally, it is the biggest challenge.
3. Arguing, it's the biggest challenge.
Tu dis que cela pourrait expliquer la hausse.
1. This might to explain the increase.
2. This might explain the increase.
3. This might explains the increase.
Tu rapportes une idée répandue.
1. It is often claimed that money brings happiness.
2. It often claimed money bring happiness.
3. It is often claim that money brings happiness.

Corrigé

Exercice 1

1. b) It seems that... · 2. c) to some extent · 3. a) to tend to · 4. c) It could be argued that... · 5. c) Social media may weaken democracy in some cases. · 6. a) Arguably,... · 7. a) tend to · 8. c) This may be due to... · 9. c) nuancer pour être plus convaincant · 10. a) in some cases

Exercice 2

1. seems · 2. extent · 3. tend · 4. argued · 5. may · 6. Arguably · 7. cases · 8. claimed · 9. appear · 10. might

Exercice 3

1. a) Many teenagers seem to spend too much time on their phones. · 2. c) It could be argued that... · 3. a) To some extent, this is true. · 4. b) This may be due to the economic crisis. · 5. b) The results appear to confirm the theory. · 6. c) Young people tend to read less. · 7. b) In some cases, the opposite is true. · 8. a) Arguably, it is the biggest challenge of our time. · 9. b) This might explain the increase. · 10. a) It is often claimed that money brings happiness.