Abstract:
After China successfully entered the World Trade Organization in 2001, there have been a rapid development in international trade, and English had demonstrated its importance in the business field as a universal language. Precision and vagueness are two indivisible characters of language; however, the importance of vagueness is usually neglected by either ordinary businessmen or linguists. In fact, it is of great significance to use vague language appropriately in business, no matter negotiation，correspondences or advertisements, contracts.
    This paper starts with some authoritative reviews of vagueness. Then, the writer states the necessity of vague language in business communication, and lists the features of vague language used in business communications, such as universality and relativity. In section four, pragmatic functions of vague language in Business English are proposed with detailed examples. Vagueness has significant effect on business, sometimes it can even decide the final result. Apart from these functions, the paper also raises some limitation of vagueness in the reality that is when one uses vagueness, it’s essential to take factors like cultural differences, religions, social customs and personalities into consideration, in order to eliminate any misunderstanding and confusion. The last section is a summary of the article.
The purpose of this article is to enhance the awareness of using vague language in business communication, as well as help people better acknowledge and understand the functions of vague language, so they can express themselves in a more efficient way to maximize profits and minimize conflicts.

Key words: vague language; features; pragmatic functions; limitation; Business English

摘  要：
自从中国在2001年成功加入世贸组织后，国际贸易飞速发展，而作为世界通用语言，英语越发显现其在商务中的重要性。准确性和模糊性是语言不可分割的两种属性，然而不管是普通商人还是语言学家都忽视了模糊性的重要性。商务交流中，往往有人把这种不确定性与商务交流中的准确严谨对立起来。事实上，模糊语在商务交流中具有重大的作用，不管是商务谈判，信函，广告还是合同，适当运用模糊语言十分必要。
本文首先给出了语言权威对模糊语的见解。其次，笔者阐述模糊语在商务交际中存在的必要性，并以具体列子分析了模糊语在商务英语中的语言特点：普遍性和通用性等。在第四部分，笔者还从语用学的角度分析了模糊语的功能，并注有例句解释，说明模糊语对生意有很大影响，有时甚至可以决定成败。本文也指出模糊语在实际应用中的一些不足，就是当我们使用模糊语时，我们还需要考虑到文化差异，信仰问题，社会习俗以及个人因素,这样才不会发生误解和迷惑。最后一部分是对全文的总结。
本文旨在提高人们在商务交流中使用模糊语言的意识，帮助人们更好的认识和理解模糊语及其功能，利用它更加科学有效的来表达自己，以达到利益最大化冲突最小化的目的。

关键词：模糊语言；语言特点；语用功能；限制性；商务英语