| 摘要 | 第1-6页 |
| Abstract | 第6-10页 |
| Chapter 1 Introduction | 第10-15页 |
| ·Rationale of the study | 第10-12页 |
| ·Research problem statement | 第12-13页 |
| ·Significance of the study | 第13页 |
| ·Layout of this thesis | 第13-15页 |
| Chapter 2 Literature Review | 第15-30页 |
| ·Vague language | 第15-22页 |
| ·Two perspectives on vague language | 第15-17页 |
| ·Definition of Vague language | 第17-20页 |
| ·Realization of vague language | 第20-21页 |
| ·Function of vague language | 第21-22页 |
| ·Theme and rheme of vague language | 第22页 |
| ·Cooperative Principle and Politeness Principle | 第22-24页 |
| ·Cooperative Principle and four conversational maxims | 第22-23页 |
| ·Politeness Principle and maxims | 第23-24页 |
| ·Business correspondence | 第24-28页 |
| ·Definition of business correspondence | 第24页 |
| ·Classification of business correspondence | 第24-27页 |
| ·Function of business correspondence | 第27-28页 |
| ·Vague language employed in business correspondences | 第28-30页 |
| ·General review of past research | 第28-29页 |
| ·Focus of current study | 第29-30页 |
| Chapter 3 Methodology | 第30-32页 |
| ·A qualitative approach | 第30-31页 |
| ·Raw material and data collection | 第31-32页 |
| Chapter 4 Analysis of employment of vague language in business correspondence | 第32-61页 |
| ·Classification of cases | 第32-33页 |
| ·Employment of Vague Language in business correspondence | 第33-54页 |
| ·Analysis of vague language employed in correspondence for establishing business relations | 第34-38页 |
| ·Analysis of vague language employed in correspondence of enquiries and replies | 第38-42页 |
| ·Analysis of vague language employed in correspondence of quotations, offers and counter-offers | 第42-44页 |
| ·Analysis of vague language employed in correspondence of orders and acceptance | 第44-47页 |
| ·Analysis of vague language employed in correspondence of payment terms, packing, shipping and insurance | 第47-51页 |
| ·Analysis of vague language employed in correspondence of claim and settlement | 第51-54页 |
| ·Data Analysis and Discussion | 第54-61页 |
| ·Vague language in different types of business correspondence | 第54-57页 |
| ·Realization of vague language | 第57-58页 |
| ·3 Function of vague language | 第58-59页 |
| ·Thematic feature of vague language | 第59-61页 |
| Chapter 5 Conclusion | 第61-65页 |
| ·Main findings | 第61-62页 |
| ·Implications | 第62-63页 |
| ·Limitation and suggestion for further study | 第63-65页 |
| References | 第65-67页 |
| Publication | 第67-68页 |
| Acknowledgements | 第68-69页 |
| Resume | 第69页 |
