Abstract

Generally speaking, diplomacy is treated as a kind of negotiation with science and wisdom, therefore, diplomatic language, the tool of diplomatic activities, is an important part of diplomatic activities. Diplomatic language requires formalness, conservativeness and accuracy. However, in a pragmatic way, diplomatic language also concludes a lot of euphemistic, implicative and indistinct sentences.
This paper just focuses on the analysis of the vagueness in English diplomatic language, including several definitions and researches of vagueness and the definition and features of diplomatic language; Then, the second part introduces two major principles (cooperative principle and politeness principle) of vagueness; Part three analyzes the realization of vagueness in diplomatic activities from two aspects: lexical level and contextual level. Part four discusses the positive and negative pragmatic functions of vagueness in diplomatic conversations.
Through exampling, generalizing and analyzing the vagueness in English diplomatic language, the author finds out that vagueness is a common way of expression in diplomatic activities and has unique pragmatic functions, such as avoiding direct expression, achieving politeness, breaking the deadlock. The study of vagueness, it might help language learners to comprehend current diplomatic language deeply.
 
Key words: vagueness; diplomatic language; pragmatic function

摘  要

一般而言，外交被视为一种谈判的科学或智慧，因此，外交工作的工具，外交语言,便成了外交活动中重要的组成部分。外交语言要符合正规、保守、精确的特点，但在实际的运用过程中，它还含有许多委婉、含蓄、模糊的语句。
本文主要研究英语外交辞令中的模糊语言，包括一些关于模糊语的定义和研究以及外交辞令的定义和特点。本文的第二部分介绍了模糊语中的两大原则（合作原则和礼貌原则），第三部分从两个方面讨论模糊语言在英语外交场合中的具体实现，即词汇和语境两方面。第四部分阐述模糊语言在外交谈判中所起到的正面和负面作用。
通过举例，归纳和分析等方式对英语外交辞令中的模糊语言进行分析，笔者发现模糊语是外交场合中一种普遍存在的表达方式，具有十分独特的语用作用，例如：表明立场，避免直接表述，打破僵局。对模糊语的研究，可以帮助语言学习者们更深刻地理解当今的外交语言。

关键词： 模糊语言；外交语言；语用功能