ABSTRACT

With the rapid development of international trade, the important role of business English correspondence in international communication has become more obvious. People always claim that it must be precise and rigid, but it is not always the case. vague language is widely used in various kinds of business English correspondences.

This article illustrates vague language in business English correspondence from the angle of Adaptation Theory, which in order to help the writers to achieve their communicative purpose more easily and perfectly.

    According to Verschueren's opinion, the choice of language must be dynamically adapted to the context. Through an analysis of vague language in business correspondence to the social world, psychological world and physical world, we can conclude that the adaptation is one of the essential characteristics of vague language in business English correspondence. 

    Through this study, the author hopes that it can further expand the research scope of adaptation theory in order to make it comply with the analysis to different writing styles. It is necessary to have comprehensive understandings of the characteristics of vague language in business correspondence. It is hoped that this study will provide some references for business English writing.

Key words:business English correspondence; vague language; Adaptation Theory

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABSTRACT

摘要

Chapter One Introduction-2

Chapter Two Literature Review-5

2.1 An Overview of Vague Language-5

2.1.1 Definitions of Vagueness and Vague Language-5

2.1.2 Previous Studies on Vague Language at Home and Abroad-6

2.2 An Overview of Business Correspondence-7

2.2.1 Definition and Classification of Business Correspondence-7

2.2.2 Functions of Business Writing-8

2.3 Previous Studies on Vague Language in Business English Correspondence at Home and Abroad-9

Chapter Three Methodology-11

3.1 An Overview of Adaptation Theory-11

3.2 Three Notions of Adaptation Theory-11

3.2.1 Variability-11

3.2.2 Negotiability-12

3.2.3 Adaptability-12

3.3 Four Aspects of Adaptation Theory-12

3.3.1 Contextual correlates of adaptability-13

3.3.2 Structural objects of adaptability-14

3.3.3 Dynamics of adaptability-14

3.3.4 Salience of the adaptation processes-14

Chapter Four Analysis of Vague Language in Business English Correspondence from the Perspective of Adaptation Theory-16

4.1 Forms of Vague Language in English Business Correspondence-16

4.1.1 Lexical vagueness-17

4.1.2 Syntactical vagueness-18

4.2 Contextual Adaptation of Vague language in Business English Correspondence.-19

4.2.1 Adaptation to social world-19

4.2.2 Adaptation to Psychological World-21

4.2.3 Adaptation to Physical World-22

Chapter Five CONCLUSION-24

REFERENCES-26