摘要：

语用模糊作为语言的基本特征之一，在语言学领域的研究中日益受到关注。众所周知，商务英语信函的交流中充满了各种各样的交际意图，一贯要求语言精确严密，清楚易解，避免模棱两可造成经济损失。但商务信函中常常不可避免的使用模糊语。因此，本文从语言的实用性角度出发，对模糊语在英语商务信函中的作用进行研究，发现模糊语在英语商务信函中有着不同的实用功能，如：避开确切信息、避免绝对性、保证客观性、礼貌以及简洁，正确使用模糊语能够使我们写作商务信函表达更加流畅，准确。通过这些研究，作者希望能够帮助人们在书写商务信函时，能够正确实用模糊语。

关键词：模糊语；英语商务信函；实用功能

Abstract：

Vagueness, one of the essential properties of language, has been attached growing attention for researches within the whole linguistic sphere. As is known，business communication is intention-driven．The language to be used in English business correspondence is supposed to be precise and clear, lest misunderstanding arose between the parties concerned，so as to avoid losses．But the use of vagueness in business letters is inevitable. So this essay carries out some researches on vague expressions in English business letters from the pragmatic perspective in order to make full use of its positivity. Vagueness in English business letters has different kinds of functions, avoiding specific information, avoiding absolutization, being objective, being polite and brief, and proper use of vague expressions will bring us much positive effectiveness when writing English business letters.

Key words: Vagueness; English business letters; Pragmatic functions

1.    Introduction
Interests in vagueness have arisen in recent years in many disciplines, such as literary criticism, linguistics, psychology, etc. People have taken great effort to do researches on the phenomena of vagueness from various areas, while this paper will focus on vagueness in business letters, which is the most frequent used mode of business communication. Business communication is concerned with the successful transfer of an idea from one individual to another, and it is a vital factor in making the world of business run smoothly and efficiently. Since business communication is of such great importance, a study about vagueness in business letters is carried out.
 This paper will first introduce the study on the vagueness and the relation between the business letters and the use of vagueness．After discussing and giving examples of the use of vague language in business letters，several meaningful points would be taken in achieving its significance．A better understanding of the role that vague language has played in delivering some kinds of messages in the business letters would be ensured．