Abstract
This paper investigates the intrinsic semantic meaning of kedo (‘but’) in utterance-final use and what kind of pragmatic effects an utterance appended with kedo would derive. I explain how softening or hedging effects are derived by the utterance-final use of kedo. I compare kedo in utterance-final use with that in utterance-medial use and point out the difference in its pragmatic function. I identify the pragmatic function of kedo within the framework of Relevance Theory which is a theory of communication and cognition.
