Abstract

This thesis is based on the studies of the pragmatic analysis of vague language in business English letter. Vagueness is a fundamental language phenomenon in the natural language environment, and the opposite of precision. Language which is made of the characteristics has elastic characteristics in its meaning space, namely its significance has no clear concept on the upper and lower. In English business letters, the vagueness of language and the pragmatic effects play a vital role. It is known to us all that business English letter always requires its language to be rigorous and clear and avoid ambiguity which will cause economic losses, but the reasonable use of vague language, not only will not affect the accuracy of the business English letter expression, but also makes the expression of business English letter more vivid, decent, polite, flexible, and helps to acquire commercial communication effect. This thesis analyzes the classifications and characteristics of vague language in business English letters, and analyzes its pragmatic functions in business English letter, there are about five aspects: conciseness, veracity , flexibility，polite and euphemism and self protection.

Keywords: business English letters; vague language; pragmatic function

摘要

模糊性是自然语言界存在的一种基本语言现象，与准确性相对立。由这一特性构成的语言在其意义空间上极具弹性特点，即其意义在上下限上没有明确的概念。在英文商务信函中，言语的模糊性和语用功能起着至关重要的用途。众所周知，英文商务信函向来要求其言语准确精密、明白易解、防止含糊其词造成经济损失，然而适量地使用模糊语言,不但不会影响英文商务信函表达的精确性, 它可以使商务英语信函更加礼貌，灵活，生动，委婉的表达，也有助于更好地实现商务沟通的效果。本文分析了商务英语信函中模糊语言的分类特征，在商务英语信函中的语用功能分析，主要有五个方面：简洁性，准确性，灵活性，礼貌委婉和自我保护功能。

关键词：英文商务信函；模糊语言；语用功能