中美外交语言中模糊语语用功能的对比分析_英语论文

Comparative Analysis of Vagueness in Chinese and American Diplomatic Language from the Perspective of Face-saving Theory

摘要

模糊语是一种社会现象，也是一种文化现象，更确切的说，它是一种为满足人们追求理想交际效果而创造的语言形式。正是因为模糊语本身的特性使得其在外交场合中发挥着至关重要的作用。在外交语言当中，模糊语通常与交涉各方的面子相联系。而各国的文化因素、历史渊源以及国际地位等都有所不同，因此对面子的认知和维护策略也会有所不同，反应在模糊语上，则体现为语用功能的不同。本文是基于Brown和 Levinson（1987）的面子保全论，对模糊语在中美两个代表性国家的外交语言当中发挥的语用功能以及产生差异的成因进行了对比分析。

关键词：模糊语  积极面子  消极面子  原因

Abstract

Vagueness is a kind of social and also a cultural phenomenon. More precisely, it can be regarded as a kind of language form created by people to get better communicative effects. It’s its characteristics that make vagueness play an important role in diplomatic occasions. And in diplomatic language, the use of vagueness is often connected with face-saving. It’s known that there exist many differences among different countries on culture, history and international status. Thus, different countries will own different cognitions on face and adopt different ways to save face. All of those differences will be reflected on the different pragmatic functions of vagueness in diplomatic language. This thesis is aimed to do a comparative analysis on the differences and corresponding causes of vagueness use in Chinese and American diplomatic language under the guidance of the Face-saving Theory which is put forward by Brown and Levinson in 1987. 

Keywords: Vagueness  Positive Face  Negative Face  Causes

Contents

Introduction 1

Chapter Ⅰ Literature Review 3

1.1 Previous Researches on Vagueness 3

1.2 Previous Researches of Vagueness in Diplomatic Language 3

ChapterⅡ Theoretical Framework 5

2.1 Basic Concepts of Face 5

2.2 Face–saving Theory 6

ChapterⅢ Comparative Analysis of Vagueness in American and Chinese Diploma-

tic Language 8

3.1 Vagueness in Chinese Diplomaitc Language 9

3.2 Vagueness in American Diplomatic Language 12

3.3 Causes of Differences on Vagueness Use 15

Conclusion 20

References 22

Acknowledgements 23