The Pragmatic Functions of Vague Language in Business English开题报告

1. 研究目的与意义

Vague and precise is basic property of human language. Business language is the application of human language in business situation, so it has these two attributes at the same time. One of the important characteristics of business English is clear, which is to ensure that we can avoid using ambiguous language or language which easily cause ambiguity in writing business letters and contract or in the process of business negotiation, as well as, so as not to cause inconvenience and misunderstanding in business activity. But, in the practical business communication, there is no denying that fuzziness exists in business language. We should understand correctly, proper use, in order to achieve the best effect of business communication.

2. 研究内容和预期目标

My paper will give a brief introduction of the pragmatic functions of vague language in business English. The first part of the paper will introduce the definition of vague language and Adaptation Theory. Then, the paper will focus on the use of the vague language. Finally, which pragmatic functions that vague language have in business English will be explored.

3. 国内外研究现状

tieping wu analyzes the unique semantic features of fuzzy words profoundly in his book 'fuzzy linguistics' in 1999, that is the uncertainty, he also points out that the fuzzy language can express its basic meaning in use, but its scope which referred to is vague, and the vagueness of this range referred to is determined by an inherent property of the objective things and the uncertainty of the understanding and judgment of people to the objective things. in business english, use of language is based on the fuzzy uncertainty inherent in the word itself, using fuzzy words consciously, thus achieving communicative purpose. it embodies the unique pragmatic functions of vague language.

in 1965, the professor of california university richard had pointed out in the context of 'fuzzy sets' : 'in the physical world, the object often does not have a precise regulation boundaries ( such as whether bacteria belong to the animal, is divided into fuzzy).it can be called fuzzy stets (translated as'模糊集', a set composed by fuzzy concepts ).

4. 计划与进度安排

1. introduction

1.1 the definition of vague language

1.2 knowledge of the vague language in the linguistics

5. 参考文献

[1] channell j. vague language[m].oxford: oxford university press,1994.165-195.

[2] grice.h.g. logic and conversation[a]in cole, p.amp; morgan ,j.(eds.)syntax and semantics[c].new york: academic press,1975:21-37