Aspects of communicative uncertainty in the language of young East Germans during the Wende Kreutz, Heinz J. 10.4225/03/5930c8e992ab2 https://bridges.monash.edu/articles/journal_contribution/Aspects_of_communicative_uncertainty_in_the_language_of_young_East_Germans_during_the_Wende/5063623 In this paper I shall address the issue of communication with respect to potential barriers and miscommunication, by illustrating how communicative uncertainty, as realised through a range of hedging strategies, may mark the speech of young East Germans. Special attention will be paid to the use of certain hedging constructions which may be explained not so much in terms of politeness, but more as an attempt to hide communicative uncertainty. Cursory reference will also be made to face saving strategies. 2017-06-02 02:09:44 1959.1/6579 Sociolinguistics of German monash:6579 journal article Discourse markers Language of East Germany/former GDR Monash University. Faculty of Arts. School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics.