摘要

本论文通过Grice的合作原则和Verschueren 顺应性理论来分析模糊语言在英语新闻报道中的应用，从语用学的角度分析模糊语的语用功能。利用具体的实例说明模糊语在新闻报道中的应用并没有违背新闻的原则，相反，模糊语的使用有其必要性，还具有促进新闻准确性和提高可信度，增加新闻灵活性，降低对相关人员的负面影响，保护媒体和迎合读者阅读习惯方面的作用。通过对模糊语滥用现象的分析表达对新闻模糊语言使用的正确态度。

关键词：模糊语言，新闻，合作原则，顺应理论   

Abstract

    This paper analyses the pragmatic function of vague languages in English new reports by analyzing Grice’s cooperative principle and Verschueren’s adaptation theory. From the view of pragmatics, this paper using many vivid examples shows the necessity and importance of vague languages in English news reports. Vague languages do not betray the principle of news reports; instead, it has its pragmatic functions. Through pointing out the abuse of vague languages, this paper will show appropriate attitudes towards the usage of vague language.

Key words: vague language, news report, cooperative principle, adaptation theory     

1. Introduction 
    Vague language is inherent and unavoidable in human language. On many occasions such as depicting a person or describing a situation, due to the limitation of human cognitive ability, questions like “How old is the man? How many are the goods? How high is the mountain? How deep is the sea?” are hard to get right answers. However, news reports require objective, accurate and real expression. The expressions and words using in the writing of news are required to obey such principles so as to show the facts. However, in today’s English news reports, vague languages such as “about”, “some days ago”, “maybe” is widely adopted. Will the adoption of vague languages betray the principle of news report? Will it mislead the readers? What are their functions? These are the questions that interest me a lot and urge me to find out the answers from this paper.