| Acknowledgements | 第5-6页 |
| Abstract | 第6-7页 |
| 摘要 | 第8-14页 |
| List of Abbreviations | 第14-15页 |
| Chapter One Introduction | 第15-20页 |
| 1.1 Background of the Research | 第15-17页 |
| 1.2 Objective of the Research | 第17页 |
| 1.3 Significance of the Research | 第17-18页 |
| 1.4 Organization of the Thesis | 第18-20页 |
| Chapter Two Literature Review | 第20-55页 |
| 2.1 Terminological Issues | 第20-32页 |
| 2.1.1 Vagueness, Ambiguity, Generality and Fuzziness | 第21-28页 |
| 2.1.2 Definitions of Vagueness | 第28-30页 |
| 2.1.3 A Working Definition of Pragmatic Vagueness | 第30-32页 |
| 2.2 Relevant Research on Vagueness | 第32-49页 |
| 2.2.1 Research on Vagueness Abroad | 第33-44页 |
| 2.2.2 Research on Vagueness at Home | 第44-48页 |
| 2.2.3 Comments on the Previous Research | 第48-49页 |
| 2.3 Study of the U.S. Department of State Spokesperson’s Remarks | 第49-55页 |
| 2.3.1 U.S. Department of State Spokesperson’s Remarks | 第49-52页 |
| 2.3.2 Research on Pragmatic Vagueness of the Spokesperson’s Remarks | 第52-55页 |
| Chapter Three Theoretical Framework | 第55-69页 |
| 3.1 An Introduction to Relevance Theory | 第55-56页 |
| 3.2 Key Notions in the Relevance Theory | 第56-67页 |
| 3.2.1 Cognitive Environment and Mutual Manifestness | 第56-58页 |
| 3.2.2 Ostensive- inferential Communication | 第58-60页 |
| 3.2.3 Informative Intention and Communicative Intention | 第60-62页 |
| 3.2.4 Degree of Relevance: Effect and Effort | 第62-65页 |
| 3.2.5 Optimal Relevance | 第65-67页 |
| 3.3 Theoretical Framework for the Research of Pragmatic Vagueness | 第67-69页 |
| Chapter Four Research Methodology | 第69-74页 |
| 4.1 Research Questions | 第69页 |
| 4.2 Research Data | 第69-71页 |
| 4.3 Research Methods | 第71-72页 |
| 4.4 Research Procedures | 第72-74页 |
| Chapter Five Analysis of Pragmatic Vagueness in the USDSSRs | 第74-110页 |
| 5.1 Realization of Pragmatic Vagueness in the USDSSRs | 第74-92页 |
| 5.1.1 Pragmatic Vagueness at Lexical Level | 第75-85页 |
| 5.1.2 Pragmatic Vagueness at Syntactical Level | 第85-90页 |
| 5.1.3 Distribution and Frequency of Pragmatic Vagueness | 第90-92页 |
| 5.2 Theoretical Analysis of Pragmatic Vagueness in the USDSSRs | 第92-106页 |
| 5.2.1 The Occurrence of Pragmatic Vagueness | 第93-94页 |
| 5.2.2 Pragmatic Vagueness and Ostension | 第94-97页 |
| 5.2.3 Pragmatic Vagueness and Degree of Relevance | 第97-100页 |
| 5.2.4 Factors Affecting the Interpretation of Pragmatic Vagueness | 第100-106页 |
| 5.3 Functions of Pragmatic Vagueness in the USDSSRs | 第106-110页 |
| Chapter Six Conclusion | 第110-114页 |
| 6.1 A Brief Summary of the Research | 第110页 |
| 6.2 Major Findings of the Research | 第110-112页 |
| 6.3 Limitations and Suggestions for Further Research | 第112-114页 |
| Bibliography | 第114-123页 |
| Appendix | 第123-128页 |
| Publications | 第128页 |
