Frontiers of Discourse Studies
FDS, Vol. 1, No. 1, 2026, pp. 126-136.
Print ISSN: 3106-809X; Online ISSN: 3106-8103
Journal homepage: https://www.fdsjournal.com
DOI：Https://doi.org/10.64058/fds260111stcsl
张琨俞 (Zhang Kunyu)，谢 群 (Xie Qun)
摘要：本研究在Mayer的可信性模型基础上，整合Varttla提出的模糊限制语分类体系，重构可信性话语策略的分析框架，并基于该框架分析2023年《财富》世界五百强致股东信中的可信性策略的特征。研究发现，世界五百强企业致股东信从“能力”“诚信”和“善良”三个维度展开信任建构：在能力维度，企业通过强调社会贡献度和表达突破的决心进行信任建构；在诚信维度，模糊限制语信任建构策略为关注利益相关和者和关注发展形势；在善意维度，则通过态度自信、承诺担当、审慎负责及经验丰富等话语策略完成信任建构。本文有助于厘清世界五百强企业致股东信中模糊限制语使用与信任建构的关系，为中国企业的传播和加强对外合作提供参考。
关键词：信任建构；模糊限制语；致股东信；世界五百强企业
作者介绍：张琨俞，博士研究生，黑龙江大学，研究方向：话语分析。电邮：Zhangkunyu20@163.com；谢群（通讯作者），教授、博士生导师、博士后合作导师，黑龙江大学《外语学刊》编辑部，研究方向：互动语言学、语言哲学。电邮：xiequn@hlju.edu.cn
Title: A Study on Trust Construction Strategies in Letters to Shareholders of Fortune Global 500 Based on Hedges
Abstract: Building on Mayer’s model of trust, this study integrates Varttla’s classification system of hedges to reconstruct an analytical framework for discourse strategies of trust construction. Based on this framework, the study analyzes the characteristics of trust construction strategies in the letters to shareholders which released in 2023 from Fortune Global 500 companies. The study found that the letters to shareholders from Fortune Global 500 companies construct trust across three dimensions, they are “competence”, “integrity,” and “benevolence”. In the competence dimension, companies employ two approaches to build trust by emphasizing social contributions and expressing a determination to achieve breakthroughs; in the integrity dimension, the strategies focus on stakeholder concerns and the business environment; on the benevolence dimension, trust is constructed through discursive strategies such as confident attitudes, commitment to responsibility, prudence and accountability, and extensive experience. This paper helps clarify the relationship between the use of hedges and trust construction in the letters to shareholders which released in 2023 from Fortune Global 500 companies, intending to assist Chinese companies with their communications and international cooperation.
Keywords: Trust construction; Hedges; Letters to Shareholders; Fortune Global 500
Author Biography: Zhang Kunyu, Ph.D. candidate at Heilongjiang University. His research focuses on discourse analysis. E-mail: Zhangkunyu20@163.com. Xie Qun (Corresponding author), Professor at Editorial Office of Journal of Foreign Languages Research, doctoral supervisor, post-doctoral collaborative supervisor in Heilongjiang University. His research focuses on interactional linguistics, Philosophy of Language. E-mail: xiequn@hlju.edu.cn
Received: 27 Feb 2026 / Revised: 01 Jun 2026 / Accepted: 09 Jun 2026 / Published online: 15 Jun 2026 / Print published: 30 Jun 2026
