Abstract

Vagueness of language is a universal phenomenon. Since the concept and theory of fuzzy linguistics was proposed in 1960’s, researchers have made much systematic descriptive study on vague language, especially on the aspects of pragmatics. The present thesis is a pragmatic analysis of vague language in business communication. First, the thesis dwells on the subject matter of this study—vagueness. It presents the review of fuzzy linguistics, offers the previous study of vagueness abroad and in China. Then by introducing different aspects of vague terms and the existence of vagueness in the international business communication, this thesis tries to expound vagueness of language in business communication based on Cooperative Principle. Last but not least, for the practical use, collecting a lot of examples of the vagueness applying in the business communication mainly discuss the explanational power for the vagueness, especially for that people using vagueness mutual related to achieve their goals. Through classifying different pragmatical functions,this thesis analyze the value which the vagueness showed in the business communication, revealing five positive functions of this phenomenon: improving the objectivity and accuracy; expressing politeness; making expression more flexible and efficient; moderating relationship; self-protection.

KEYWORDS:vagueness; business English; pragmatic function

摘　要

模糊性是自然语言的属性。自从上世纪六十年代模糊理论提出之后，学者们从语用角度对模糊语言进行了系统的描述性研究。本文尝试从语用学的角度，对商务交流中的模糊语言及其功能进行语用分析。首先，本文阐述模糊语言学的理论基础，列举了国内外专家学者对模糊语言的研究成果。然后本文通过介绍模糊语言的2大类以及多种小分类并基于合作原则，陈述了模糊语言存在于商务英语中的各种形式。最后也是最重要的一点，在现实生活中，通过收集了大量包含模糊语言的商务交流中的例子，重点阐述了在商务交流中模糊语言的解释力，尤其是人们如何运用模糊语言相互关联来达到预期的效果。本文通过对商务英语中模糊语言不同的语用功能分析了模糊语言在商务英语中存在的价值,揭示了使用模糊语言的积极作用：模糊语言可以提高语言表达的准确性和客观性; 模糊语言可以使语言表达更有礼貌; 模糊语言可以增强语言的灵活性; 模糊语言可以缓和商务交际关系; 自我保护功能。

关键词:模糊语言；商务英语；语用功能

1    Introduction
The author chooses to study the Vagueness in Business English mainly for the following reasons:
First, vagueness has widely existing in language using in our daily life, and vagueness linguists has been regarded as one of the most important branches in language study, so lots of linguistics have concentrated on the area, and lots of researches have been achieved, but as we know, this area study begins from the last century, and a lot of other results need to be dug out. In this thesis, the author tries to illustrate the existence of vagueness and discuss the pragmatic function of vagueness in business English.