| 1. Introduction | 第1-20页 |
| ·The concept of vagueness | 第10-13页 |
| ·The differences between fuzziness, vagueness ambiguity and generality | 第13-17页 |
| ·Fuzziness | 第14页 |
| ·Vagueness | 第14-15页 |
| ·Ambiguity | 第15-16页 |
| ·Generality | 第16-17页 |
| ·Literature review | 第17-20页 |
| 2. Classification of vague numerals | 第20-32页 |
| ·Round numerals | 第20-22页 |
| ·Plural numerals | 第22-23页 |
| ·Numerals in juxtaposition | 第23-25页 |
| ·Numerals with approximators | 第25-27页 |
| ·The numerals without either clear lower boundaries or clear upper boundaries | 第25-27页 |
| ·The numerals with clear lower boundaries but without clear upper boundaries | 第27页 |
| ·The numerals with clear upper boundaries but without clear lower boundaries | 第27页 |
| ·Numerals in idioms | 第27-32页 |
| ·Numerals in idioms expressing "large quantities" | 第27-29页 |
| ·Numerals in idioms expressing "small quantities" | 第29-30页 |
| ·Numerals in idioms which have transferred from quantities to others | 第30-32页 |
| 3. The cultural factors in vagueness of numerals | 第32-48页 |
| ·The influence of culture on language | 第32-34页 |
| ·The similarities between the vague meanings of English and Chinese numerals and the cultural factors | 第34-40页 |
| ·The differences between the vague meanings of English and Chinese numerals and the cultural factors | 第40-48页 |
| 4. The functions of vague numerals | 第48-63页 |
| ·Least effort | 第48-52页 |
| ·Providing just the right amount of information | 第52-53页 |
| ·Providing rough information when precise information is not available | 第53-54页 |
| ·Self-protection | 第54-55页 |
| ·Withholding information deliberately | 第55-56页 |
| ·Emphasizing and contrasting | 第56-58页 |
| ·Media of rhetoric | 第58-63页 |
| ·Hyperbole | 第58-62页 |
| ·Metaphor and others | 第62-63页 |
| 5. Conclusion | 第63-66页 |
| Bibliography | 第66-69页 |
