| Acknowledgements | 第1-5页 |
| Abstract in Chinese | 第5-6页 |
| Abstract in English | 第6-10页 |
| 1.Introduction | 第10-14页 |
| ·Research background | 第10-12页 |
| ·Research questions | 第12页 |
| ·Significance of the research | 第12-13页 |
| ·Thesis layout | 第13-14页 |
| 2.Literature Review and Theoretical Framework | 第14-30页 |
| ·A general survey of vague expressions | 第14-23页 |
| ·Previous rescarch on vague expressions | 第14-19页 |
| ·A working definition of vague expressions | 第19-20页 |
| ·Clarification of some related terms | 第20-23页 |
| ·Previous studies on vague expressions in English business correspondence | 第23-24页 |
| ·Theoretical framework | 第24-30页 |
| ·Adaptation Theory | 第24-27页 |
| ·Relevance Theory | 第27-30页 |
| 3.Research Methodology | 第30-36页 |
| ·Data collection | 第30-31页 |
| ·Classification of sample letters | 第30-31页 |
| ·Selection of sample letters | 第31页 |
| ·Methods of the analysis | 第31-36页 |
| ·A quantitative study of vague expressions | 第32页 |
| ·A qualitative study of vague expressions | 第32-36页 |
| 4.Pragmatic Study of Vague Expressions in English Business Correspondence | 第36-51页 |
| ·Linguistic realization of vague expressions | 第36-38页 |
| ·Vague expressions in English business correspondence | 第38-45页 |
| ·Vague expressions in correspondence of enquiry and re-enquiry | 第38-39页 |
| ·Vague expressions in correspondence of offer and counter-offer | 第39-41页 |
| ·Vague expressions in correspondence of sales and order | 第41-43页 |
| ·Vague expressions in correspondence of complaint and adjustment | 第43-45页 |
| ·Interpretation of vague expressions via Adaptation & Relevance Theory | 第45-51页 |
| ·Addresser's strategy to adapt to his communicative intention | 第45-48页 |
| ·Addressee's strategy to meet his communicative expectation | 第48-51页 |
| 5.Findings and Discussion | 第51-56页 |
| ·Frequency of vague expressions in different types of English business letters | 第51-52页 |
| ·Linguistic realization of vague expressions in English business letters | 第52-53页 |
| ·Pragmatic functions of vague expressions in English business correspondence | 第53-56页 |
| ·Making English business correspondence more polite | 第53-54页 |
| ·Making the language more persuasive | 第54页 |
| ·Arousing interest | 第54页 |
| ·Achieving self-protection | 第54-56页 |
| 6.Conclusion | 第56-59页 |
| ·Review of the study | 第56-57页 |
| ·Limitations of the present research | 第57-58页 |
| ·Implications | 第58-59页 |
| Bibliography | 第59-63页 |
| Appendix 1:Selected sample letters | 第63-69页 |
| Appendix 2:Linguistic realization of vague expressions in the sample letters | 第69页 |
