| 摘要 | 第1-5页 |
| Abstract | 第5-10页 |
| Introduction | 第10-17页 |
| ·Background of the Study | 第10-13页 |
| ·Rationale of the Study | 第13-14页 |
| ·Data Collection and Research Methodology | 第14-15页 |
| ·Research Questions | 第15页 |
| ·Organization of the Thesis | 第15-17页 |
| Chapter 1 Literature Review | 第17-46页 |
| ·Vague Language | 第17-32页 |
| ·Review of Previous Research on Vague Language | 第17-25页 |
| ·Clarification of Some Relative Terms | 第25-29页 |
| ·A Working Definition of Vague Language | 第29-32页 |
| ·Business Correspondence | 第32-36页 |
| ·Definition of Business Correspondence | 第32-33页 |
| ·Classification of Business Correspondence | 第33-35页 |
| ·Principles for Business Writing | 第35-36页 |
| ·Vague Language in English Business Correspondence | 第36-37页 |
| ·Theoretical Framework of the Study | 第37-46页 |
| ·Adaptation Theory | 第37-42页 |
| ·Politeness Theory | 第42-46页 |
| Chapter 2 Pragmatic Usages of Vague Language in English Business Correspondence | 第46-81页 |
| ·General Situation of Using Vague Language in Communication | 第46-49页 |
| ·Specific Context of Using Vague Language in English Business Correspondence | 第49-67页 |
| ·Employment of Vague Language in Good-News and Neutral-News Letters | 第50-57页 |
| ·Employment of Vague Language in Bad-News Letters | 第57-62页 |
| ·Employment of Vague Language in Persuasive Letters | 第62-67页 |
| ·Data Analysis | 第67-71页 |
| ·Vague Language in Different Types of Business Correspondence | 第67-70页 |
| ·Realization of vague language | 第70-71页 |
| ·Adaptation:the Addresser's Strategy | 第71-81页 |
| ·Using Vague Language to Adapt to Communicative Purposes | 第72-76页 |
| ·Using Vague Language to Adapt to Politeness Motivations | 第76-81页 |
| Chapter 3 Pragmatic Effects of Vague Language in English Business Correspondence | 第81-92页 |
| ·Helping with Proper Use of Business Language | 第81-82页 |
| ·Enhancing the Flexibility of Business Language | 第82-85页 |
| ·Making the Writing More Polite and Persuasive | 第85-88页 |
| ·Ensuring Self-Protection | 第88-92页 |
| Conclusion | 第92-97页 |
| 1.Major Findings | 第92-94页 |
| 2.Limitations | 第94-95页 |
| 3.Directions for further study | 第95-97页 |
| Bibliography | 第97-101页 |
| Appendix | 第101-122页 |
| Acknowledgements | 第122-123页 |
| 攻读学位期间主要的研究成果 | 第123页 |
