| Acknowledgements | 第1-6页 |
| 摘要 | 第6-7页 |
| Abstract | 第7-10页 |
| Chapter 1 Introduction | 第10-14页 |
| ·The Significance of the Study | 第10-12页 |
| ·The Organization of the Thesis | 第12-14页 |
| Chapter 2 Literature Review | 第14-34页 |
| ·The Definition of Vague Language | 第14-16页 |
| ·Differences Between Vague Language and Vagueness | 第16-18页 |
| ·The Classification of Vague Language | 第18-22页 |
| ·Vague Language in English Business Negotiation | 第22-26页 |
| ·Verschueren's Adaptation Theory | 第26-34页 |
| ·A Brief Introduction of the Adaptation Theory | 第26-28页 |
| ·Ingredients of the Communicative Context | 第28-34页 |
| Chapter 3 Representations of Vague Language in English BusinessNegotiation | 第34-45页 |
| ·Vague Words or Phrases | 第34-37页 |
| ·Hedges | 第37-41页 |
| ·Other Vague Expressions | 第41-45页 |
| Chapter 4 The Interpretation of Vague Language in English Business Negotiation | 第45-83页 |
| ·Adaptation to the Mental World | 第46-56页 |
| ·Adaptation to Cognitive Elements | 第46-51页 |
| ·Adaptation to Emotive Elements | 第51-56页 |
| ·Adaptation to the Social World | 第56-77页 |
| ·Adaptation to Social Settings or Institutions | 第57-64页 |
| ·Adaptation to Culture | 第64-77页 |
| ·Adaptation to the Physical World | 第77-83页 |
| ·Adaptation to Physical Conditions | 第77-79页 |
| ·Adaptation to 'Material' Conditions of Speech | 第79-83页 |
| Chapter 5 Pragmatic Functions of Vague Language in English BusinessNegotiation | 第83-89页 |
| ·Strengthening Self-protection and Avoiding Getting into the Deadlock | 第83-85页 |
| ·Obtaining More Information from the Opposite Side | 第85-86页 |
| ·Making Statements More Objective and Accurate | 第86-89页 |
| Chapter 6 Conclusion | 第89-92页 |
| Works Cited | 第92-96页 |
| 攻读硕士学位期间发表的论文和取得的科研成果 | 第96页 |
