Abstract and Key Words

Abstract: Understatement is a common linguistic phenomenon, which pervades in people’s daily life especially in verbal communication. On the basis of a brief introduction of formation of understatement i.e. lexical, grammatical, rhetorical and contextual formation, the present research is carried out to elaborate the communicative function of understatement by analyzing specific examples in business negotiation and diplomatic activities. It is hoped that the findings of this study can help people understand the effectiveness of understatement in coordinating human relationship in communication.

Key words: understatement; communicative function; pragmatic strategy   

摘要：低调陈述是一种常见的语言现象，它渗透在人们的日常生活中，尤其是人们的言语交际活动中。本文从词汇、语法、修辞和语境等方面简要介绍低调陈述构成方式，并通过分析商务谈判和外交活动中的具体实例来阐述低调陈述的交际功能。希望本研究有助于人们了解低调陈述在交际活动中所起到的协调人际关系的作用。

关键词：低调陈述、交际功能、语用策略

1.    Introduction
Understatement is a common linguistic phenomenon in both Chinese and English. People frequently use it in both verbal expressions and written text. Understatement refers to a case where the speaker’s description is weaker than is warranted by the state of affairs described. The frequent use of understatement reveals the similarity of what is conveyed and what it is in the real situation. People can’t help employing understatement to express strong emotion or attitudes towards people or things, to promote communication and to show politeness, etc. therefore, understatement is not simply rhetorical devices, but they are effective pragmatic tools in communication.
Understatement, as a frequently used pragmatic strategy in our daily life especially in verbal communication, is attracting the attention of linguistics, psychologists and sociologists though currently there has not been intensive research on it as much as linguistic phenomena like refusals, euphemisms, metaphors and irony. The previous researches are restricted to either the interpretation or the outside features of this common linguistic phenomenon. The ignorance on the production process of understatement has a negative influence on people’s correct understanding on understatement and on the successful communication. Owing to the prevalence of understatement in communication, I feel there is necessity to do particular research to account for this pragmatic strategy.