模糊语的社会功能研究

Research on the Social Functions of Vague Language

模糊性一直被看成是语言的固有属性,引起了哲学家、语言学家、认知科学家的广泛关注。正确使用模糊语不仅能够促成有效沟通,还能体现个人语用能力。本文主要梳理了国内外有关模糊语言的定义及其成因,并通过案例提炼出模糊语言的正向和负向社会功能,前者包括提供适量信息、强调、弱化、表达亲密与团结、自我疏离五类,后者包括对抗和逃离两类。得体把握模糊语的社会功能可以推进交际对话顺利展开,构建有意义的语篇,提升语用意识。

Vagueness,one of the internal features of language,has received wide attention from philosophers,linguists and cognitive scientists.Appropriate use of vague language not only leads to effective communication but also manifests one’s pragmatic ability.This paper focuses on the social functions of vague language preceded by an analysis of its various definitions and causes.Vague language serves both positive and negative social purposes,the former including giving the right amount of information,strengthening,softening,showing intimacy and solidarity as well as self-distancing and the latter including confrontations and evading.The delicate mastery of vague language helps move forward daily dialogues,construct meaningful discourse and cultivate pragmatic awareness.