| Acknowledgements | 第1-6页 |
| 摘要 | 第6-7页 |
| Abstract | 第7-12页 |
| Chapter 1 Introduction | 第12-21页 |
| ·Introduction to the Study | 第12-15页 |
| ·Rationale of the Study | 第15-17页 |
| ·Data Collection and Research Method | 第17-18页 |
| ·Organization of the Thesis | 第18-20页 |
| ·Summary | 第20-21页 |
| Chapter 2 Literature Review | 第21-46页 |
| ·A Working Definition of Vague Language | 第21-22页 |
| ·Comparison of Some Confusing Terms | 第22-28页 |
| ·Vagueness vs Fuzziness | 第23-26页 |
| ·Vagueness vs Generality | 第26-27页 |
| ·Vagueness vs Ambiguity | 第27-28页 |
| ·Justifications for the Study of Vague Language in Pragmatics | 第28-32页 |
| ·Theoretical Prerequisites | 第32-41页 |
| ·Linguisitc Adaptation Theory | 第32-38页 |
| ·Face Theory | 第38-41页 |
| ·An Overview of Business Correspondence | 第41-45页 |
| ·Summary | 第45-46页 |
| Chapter 3 Pragmatic Analysis of Vague Language in English Business Correspondence | 第46-90页 |
| ·Application of Linguistic Adaptation Theory to the Analysis of Vague Language in English Business Correspondence | 第46-78页 |
| ·General Situations of Adopting Vague Language in Communication | 第47-51页 |
| ·Specific Contexts of Adopting Vague Language in English Business Correspondence | 第51-78页 |
| ·Application of Face Theory to the Analysis of Vague Language in English Business Correspondence | 第78-88页 |
| ·Politeness and Vague Language in English Business Correspondence | 第80-82页 |
| ·Addresser's Face and Vague Language in English Business Correspondence | 第82-84页 |
| ·Addressee's Face and Vague Language in English Business Correspondence | 第84-88页 |
| ·Summary | 第88-90页 |
| Chapter 4 Pragmatic Functions of Vague Language in English Business Correspondence | 第90-111页 |
| ·Positive Functions of Vague Language in English Business Correspondence | 第92-107页 |
| ·Increasing the Appropriateness of Business Language | 第92-95页 |
| ·Enhancing the Flexibility of Business Communication | 第95-96页 |
| ·Deliberately Withholding Information | 第96-99页 |
| ·Mitigating the Face-threatening Effects | 第99-100页 |
| ·Self-protection | 第100-104页 |
| ·Indicating You-attitude | 第104-107页 |
| ·Negative Functions of Vague Language in English Business Correspondence | 第107-109页 |
| ·Summary | 第109-111页 |
| Chapter 5 Conclusion | 第111-114页 |
| Works Cited | 第114-118页 |
| 攻读硕士学位期间发表的论文和取得的科研成果 | 第118页 |
