| List of Figures | 第5-6页 |
| 摘要 | 第6-7页 |
| Abstract | 第7页 |
| Chapter One Introduction | 第8-15页 |
| 1.1 Significance of the Study | 第8-10页 |
| 1.2 Objectives and Methodology of the Study | 第10-13页 |
| 1.3 Organization of the Thesis | 第13-15页 |
| Chapter Two Literature Review | 第15-29页 |
| 2.1 Origin of Vagueness | 第15-16页 |
| 2.2 Definition of Pragmatic Vagueness and similar terms | 第16-23页 |
| 2.2.1 Definition of Vague Language and Pragmatic Vagueness | 第17-19页 |
| 2.2.2 Pragmatic Vagueness and Indirectness | 第19-20页 |
| 2.2.3 Pragmatic Vagueness and Ambiguity | 第20-23页 |
| 2.3 Sources and Causes of Pragmatic Vagueness | 第23-25页 |
| 2.4 Status Quo of the Research in China and Abroad | 第25-29页 |
| Chapter Three Analysis of Pragmatic Vagueness | 第29-39页 |
| 3.1 Dialectic Relation between Vagueness and Precision | 第29-35页 |
| 3.1.1 Evolvement of vagueness and precision | 第29-30页 |
| 3.1.2 Vagueness is absolute while precision is relative | 第30-31页 |
| 3.1.3 Vagueness and precision are interdependent and can be transformed | 第31-32页 |
| 3.1.4 Vagueness and precision can be as measures of reflecting each other | 第32-35页 |
| 3.2 Classification of Vagueness | 第35-37页 |
| 3.3 Negative Pragmatic Vagueness | 第37-39页 |
| Chapter Four Positive Vagueness and Its Application | 第39-58页 |
| 4.1 Functions of Positive Pragmatic Vagueness | 第39-48页 |
| 4.1.1 Euphemism | 第40-41页 |
| 4.1.2 Humor and Sarcasm | 第41-43页 |
| 4.1.3 Politeness and Tactfulness | 第43-44页 |
| 4.1.4 Self-protection | 第44页 |
| 4.1.5 Feeling uncertain about the expression | 第44-45页 |
| 4.1.6 Deliberately Withholding information | 第45-47页 |
| 4.1.7 Giving appropriate amount of information | 第47-48页 |
| 4.2 Realization of Positive Pragmatic Vagueness | 第48-55页 |
| 4.2.1 From the Angle of Speaker and Hearer | 第49-50页 |
| 4.2.2 Phonetic Level | 第50-51页 |
| 4.2.3 Lexical Level | 第51-53页 |
| 4.2.4 Grammatical and Structural Level | 第53-55页 |
| 4.3 Application of Positive Vagueness to College English Teaching | 第55-58页 |
| 4.3.1 Reflection of Vagueness in Education | 第55-56页 |
| 4.3.2 Measures | 第56-58页 |
| Chapter Five Conclusion | 第58-59页 |
| Bibliography | 第59-61页 |
| Acknowledgements | 第61-62页 |
