Abstract

Vagueness is an inherent feature of human language which is objective and unavoidable.  For the sake of strategy, diplomats with some specific intention frequently communicate by vague language. Based on Skopos Theory and its three principles, this thesis mainly makes a study on translation tactics employed in diplomatic vague language. It stresses that translators with particular diplomatic aim in mind should achieve the diplomatic intention in communication by different translation methods under the guidance of Skopos Theory.   

Keywords:  The Skopos Theory  diplomatic language  vagueness  translation methods

摘要

语言的模糊性是人类自然语言体系中客观存在且难以避免的一种基本属性。出于策略的需要，外交中经常需要运用模糊语表达一些特定的意图。本文从德国功能目的论角度，结合其三大原则，主要分析目的论指导下的外交模糊语的翻译方法，强调译者应本着自身的外交目的，在目的论理论的指导下，通过选择不同的翻译方法以达到特定的外交交际目的。

关键词: 功能目的论；外交语言；模糊语；翻译方法

Chapter One Introduction
For the sake of better communication in diplomatic occasions, vague language, which has been largely used in daily life, benefits the diplomats a lot. Vague language makes great contributions to avoiding unnecessary conflicts in diplomatic communication. The quality of translation will have great impact on the diplomatic relationship between nations.
    Due to the fact that vague Language is widely used in diplomatic activities, the translation of diplomatic vague language is considered to be an issue very important for translators working in diplomacy. The present thesis is to justify the feasibility of Skopos Theory in guiding the translation of diplomatic vague language by the study on translation tactics employed in diplomatic vague language.
1.1 Research Background
    Vagueness is the attribute of natural language. In human languages, there are a variety of words used to express some of the concepts without strict definition, namely “vague words”. In communication, people often use vague words to make their expression effectively. For instance, someone says “we’ll consider your suggestions carefully” to indicate their rejection. The concept “fuzziness” was first proposed by L.A Zadeh, who put forward the notion of “Fuzzy Set” in Information and Control in 1965. Since then, fuzziness theory has been widely applied and more and more attention has been paid to the fuzzy phenomena in language. In China, Professor Wu Tieping’s book of Fuzzy Linguistics started a new stage in the study of vagueness. He is the first scholar who considers vague language as an independent academic discipline. Soon many scholars and researchers began to study the vagueness of language from different perspectives, such as semantic, cognitive and so on. Nevertheless, the first scholar who discusses vagueness from pragmatic perspective is Professor He Ziran. His essay “浅论语用模糊” (He Ziran, 1990: 3) first put vagueness into pragmatic study. The study on pragmatic vagueness is of great help and is meaningful to the communication.