| 摘要 | 第1-4页 |
| Abstract | 第4-8页 |
| Introduction | 第8-11页 |
| Chapter One Reviewing and Defining Vagueness | 第11-21页 |
| ·Previous Studies on Vagueness | 第11-16页 |
| ·Explanation of Confusing Terms | 第16-20页 |
| ·Summary | 第20-21页 |
| Chapter Two Adaptation Theory | 第21-28页 |
| ·Pragmatics as a General Functional Perspective on Language | 第22页 |
| ·Language Use as a Process of ‘Making Choices | 第22-24页 |
| ·Three Properties of Language | 第24-25页 |
| ·Four Angles of Investigations | 第25-28页 |
| Chapter Three Interpreting Vagueness in the Light of AT | 第28-45页 |
| ·Vagueness on the Phonological Level | 第28-30页 |
| ·Vagueness on the Semantic Level | 第30-39页 |
| ·Vagueness by Using Homonyms | 第30-32页 |
| ·Vagueness by Using Hedges | 第32-37页 |
| ·Vagueness by Using Indefinite Pronouns | 第37-39页 |
| ·Vagueness on the Syntactic Level | 第39-41页 |
| ·Vagueness by Using Unreal Conditional Clause | 第40页 |
| ·Vagueness by Using the Sentence Pattern …or | 第40-41页 |
| ·Vagueness on the Discourse Level | 第41-45页 |
| Chapter Four Pragmatic Effects of Vagueness | 第45-65页 |
| ·Showing Politeness | 第46-59页 |
| ·Brown and Levinson’s Face-saving Theory of Politeness | 第47-49页 |
| ·Vagueness as Positive Politeness Strategy | 第49-53页 |
| ·Vagueness as Negative Politeness Strategy | 第53-56页 |
| ·Cultural Differences of Politeness in the Use of Vagueness | 第56-59页 |
| ·Self-protection | 第59-61页 |
| ·Creating Humorous Atmosphere | 第61-62页 |
| ·Deliberately Withholding Information | 第62-65页 |
| Conclusion | 第65-67页 |
| Bibliography | 第67-71页 |
| Acknowledgements | 第71页 |
