顺应观下的英文商务信函模糊语用交际策略

Communication Strategy of Pragmatic Vagueness in English Business Correspondences-- From the Perspective of Linguistic Adaptation

英文商务信函是重要的国际交流方式之一.通常认为,信函的语言表达应力求清晰、准确.但研究表明,英文商务信函存在着不可缺少的模糊表达.从维索尔伦（Verschueren）的语言顺应论视角,对英文商务信函中写信人出于某种目的故意使用语用模糊这一现象进行详细分析,并得出结论：英文商务信函中的语用模糊是“语言选择”的必然结果,是写信人对心理世界和社交世界的顺应,是顺应特定交际语境所产生的.模糊表达实质上是有效的语用交际策略,其存在非但不影响交流,反而使得书面交际更顺利、更成功.

Many people believe that the linguistic expressions in business correspondences should be clear and concrete, that vague language should be avoided if possible when writing business letters However, studies have shown that pragmatic vagueness is frequently used in business correspondences.This thesis focuses its attention on the intended use of vague language in international business correspondences based on the Verschueren’s Adaptation Theory. Through analysis, the conclusion is drawn that pragmatic vagueness in business letters is a kind of communication strategy and the adaptation is mainly made due to 1）the mental world,such as motivation, emotion;2） the social world, such as social rules, social conventions or social position.In certain contexts, the addresser purposely chooses the strategy of pragmatic vagueness to achieve the expected communicative effects.