Mitigation and Hedging in the Speech of Men and Women in Ubiaja Dialect of Esan

This is a study on mitigation and hedging in the speech of men and women in the Ubiaja dialect of Esan. It centers on examining how men and women that speak Ubiaja dialect of Esan use specific language techniques to moderate the tone of their speech and avoid being overly direct. The methodology employed for data analysis is a descriptive approach, combining information from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data was collected from natural speeches of native Ubiaja speakers in various contexts, and secondary sources, such as library materials and journal articles, provided additional information. The analysis, conducted using the descriptive research method, revealed that both men and women use mitigation strategies such as indirect language, hedging, and euphemisms to maintain politeness and social harmony. The study adopts Dixon's (2010) Basic Linguistic Theory, providing a structured framework for examining gendered use of mitigation in Ubiaja Esan speech. The findings of the study emphasize that women use empathetic, indirect language, while men are more direct and assertive. Women emphasize harmony, men focus on leadership. Dixon's framework connects speech to societal norms. The primary objective of this study is to identify the scenarios where people in Ubiaja mitigate their speech and avoid direct statements, examine the linguistic strategies used by speakers of the Ubiaja dialect to mitigate their speech and avoid directness and find out the differences and similarities in how men and women use these Mitigation and hedging tecThis is a study on mitigation and hedging in the speech of men and women in the Ubiaja dialect of Esan. It centers on examining how men and women that speak Ubiaja dialect of Esan use specific language techniques to moderate the tone of their speech and avoid being overly direct. It aims to find out the ways they express politeness, reduce the impact of their words, or introduce uncertainty to their statements.Conversation is a fundamental aspect of face-to-face interaction in all human societies and is considered a second nature for humans. This study focuses on identifying differences and similarities in these strategies between male and female speakers. The motivation behind this research is to understand how these language strategies are employed to maintain social harmony, avoid conflict, and preserve relationships within the Ubiaja-speaking community hniques. This study is essential for preserving the Ubiaja dialect and making it accessible to younger generations