1、商务英语信函中模糊用语的语用分析商务信函中的模糊用语分析和翻译技巧THE VAGUE LANGUAGE AND TRANSLATION SKILL IN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENCE 摘 要本文首先结合模糊语言的国内外研究实际探讨了它的起源和发展，指出它在语言中不可缺少的地位；然后阐述了商务英语的定义及其特点，并说明了模糊语言在商务英语信函中所起到的积极作用，如使商务英语信函中的商务语言表达的更加灵活，从而加强了礼貌性。中外商务英语信函中模糊用语的使用情况进行分析比较，并对今后如何更加恰当的使用模糊语言提出建议。在译文中如出现谬误,势必导致双方误解从而贻误商机。而质量上乘的译
2、文则能取得“双赢”的效果。关键词：模糊用语；商务英语信函；礼貌原则 翻译技巧ABSTRACTThis paper first explores the origin and development of vague language combined with the research at home and abroad and points out its indispensible place. It then elaborates the definition and characteristics of Business English and shows the positive
3、role of using vague language in business correspondence. That is, making business expression more flexible, thereby enhancing the courtesy. To be more specific，it not only makes the delivery of business message more accurate but also broadens humans imagination. As a result, the listener is going to
4、 accept the information easily and the permissive chance will be increased. At last, the analysis and comparison of using vague language in business correspondence at home and abroad will be given and the feasible advice will be present.Key words：Vague Language; Business Correspondence; Politeness P
5、rinciple Contents1Introduction 11.1 Necessity and significance of the study 11.2 Outline of the thesis 12. Vague language at home and abroad 32.1 Origin and definition of vague language 32.2 Clarification of some terms 62.3 Summary 83. Definition and characteristics of Business English 83.1 Principl
6、es of Business English 93.2 Necessity of using vague language in business correspondence 104. The Effect of vague language in business correspondence 124.1 Improving politeness 134.2 Enhancing the expression 155. Translate Skill 125.1 Words polite, tactful tone 135.2 Mr Smooth,comsistent style 156Co
7、nclusion 17References 18 1IntroductionLanguage is commonly assumed to be clear and precise. Therefore, vagueness and ambiguity are defect to be avoided whenever possible. However, no matter how official the situation is, we cannot avoid using vague language since it exists here and there. Sometimes
8、using vague language appropriately can enhance the communicative effects. Especially in Business English, vague language has been used as a communicative strategy that creates certain pragmatic effects and helps addresser achieve certain communicative intention. The vagueness can promote the busines
9、s communication and contribute to fulfill the communicative purposes. It is in this sense that the idea shapes up in the author.1.1 Necessity and significance of the studySince vagueness has been found to rich language using, skillful use of it can take special effects in correspondence. However, th
10、e importance of it does not gain enough attention. Most Chinese still focus on grammar and precision of expression. Although many researchers have worked on the study of daily English, literature and language teaching, the study of vague language has seldom been associated with Business English, let
11、 alone business correspondence.Actually, vagueness in business correspondence is a very potential study. The present study may help readers use it better and more specifically. It may lead readers to have a better understanding of realizing the different intention vague language.1.2 Outline of the t
12、hesisThis thesis consists of six chapters. Chapter one presents a general picture of the thesis, telling us the necessity and signification of study. Chapter two reviews the related studies of vague language. The perspective adopted by the present research is illustrated, and the researches at home
13、or abroad are talked about. Chapter three introduces the principles and characteristics of Business English and the inevitable relation between vagueness and business correspondence. Chapter four probes into vagueness from the perspective of pragmatics. Take two businesses letters from collected dat
14、a for example, Chapter five analyses the differences between using vague language in business correspondence at home and abroad. Chapter six is a concluding remark which summarizes the major findings of the present study. At the same time, the limitations are also displayed and some suggestions are
15、provided for further learning and research on vague language. 2. Vague language at home and abroad2.1 Origin and definition of vague languageVague linguistics is a new developing subject in linguistic research. Since the mid-1960s, many foreign scholars who have conducted their studies from various
16、aspects and layers have done researches on vague language. In china, a lot of researches on this subject from the angles of semantics, pragmatics, lexicology, syntax, psychology, etc have been undertaken. According to Russell, vagueness, though it applies primarily to what is cognitive, is a concept
17、ion applicable to every kind of representation 13. A vague belief has a much better chance of being true than a precise one, because there are more possible facts that would verify it 17. Ever since Zadeh (1965) propose “fuzzy set”, this mathematical concept has been used widely. Fuzzy linguistics,
18、this newly-immerged discipline, is one among them. German linguist Anton Marty, in his work Untersuchungen zur Grundlegung der Allgemeinen Grammtic und Spachphilosophie, gave a profound understanding of the vagueness of language by saying, “vagueness is such a kind of phenomenon, that is, the field
19、of application of certain names is not strictly outlined” 214. In American linguistic Israel Schefflers famous work, Beyond the Letter: A philosophical Inquiry into Ambiguity, Vagueness and Metaphor in language, he pointed out,” vagueness is a universal feature of descriptive words” 33. The review h
20、ere is intended only to locate our approach to vague language among current approaches. Meanwhile, the confused and connected terms “fuzziness”, “vagueness”, “generality”, “ambiguity” will be presented and elucidated. 2.1.1 Research on vague language abroad Russell in his article Vagueness illuminat
21、es that “vagueness and precision alike are characteristics which can only belong to a representation.” 116 Without representation, no matter it is cognitive or mechanical, vagueness and precision wont be existed. One system of terms related in various ways is an accurate representation of another sy
22、stem of terms related in various other ways if there is a one-one relation of the terms of the one to the terms of the other, and likewise a one-one relation of the relations of the one to the relations of the other, such that, “when two or more terms in the one system have a relation belonging to t
23、hat system, the corresponding terms of the other system have the corresponding relation belonging to that.” 18-9 Tasks, missions, assignment, duty, etc. all belong to this range of definition in so far as they are accurate. That is, a representation is vague when the relation of the representing sys
24、tem may have more than one explanation to represented system .For instance, a name such as “Blair” which is so extensive that it might equally represent the boy with a red hat or the girl in a white dress is vague. A short story is usually vaguer than a longer story, because it does not show all the
25、 plot and details of the characters, etc. Vagueness, clearly, is a matter of degree, depending upon the extent of the possible differences between different systems represented by the same representation. There is not one definite fact necessary and sufficient for its truth, but a certain region of
26、possible facts, any one of which would make it true. “Accuracy, on the contrary, is an ideal limit.” 116 Channel provides the following functions in a more nature way “ giving the right amount of information, deliberately withholding information，using language Persuasively and self-protection” 4194
27、. According to her, ordinary language leaves room for people to be vague to avoid precision and the communication associated with it. She shows that vagueness as she defines it is a ubiquitous phenomenon in our language deserving of linguists serious attention. She also categorizes three kinds of pr
28、agmatic vagueness: 1) vague additives that is, a word or phrase is added to what would otherwise be a precise statement, to result in a vague reading, such as near/about4120-122; 2) vagueness by choice of vague words, words which are always vague, such as whereisit4122-123, 3) vagueness by implicati
29、on, which is such a case where an apparently precise sentence can be used and understood to have a vague meaning, or where accurate utterances convey some implicit meanings3123-125. It is deserve to be mentioned that the conclusion of Channel is not based on the theoretical study but realistic date.
30、 Lakoff suggests that “some of the most interesting questions are raised by the study of words whose meaning implicitly involves fuzziness，words whose jobs are to make things fuzzier or less fuzzy” 53. He, as well as McCauley, applies Zadehs fuzzy set theory to the study of meaning. He points out th
31、at there is some vagueness in the boundaries of meaning. If we take fish as an example, it seems that salmon is a member, as it belongs to fish completely. However, crab hardly belongs to fish. Thus, a better way of explaining the meaning of fish, especially the referential meaning of it, is to rank
32、 relevant members as to the degree of their fish-likeness: the degree to which their appearances are more similar to the core member of fish. So the sentence “A salmon is a fish” sounds more true than the sentence “A crab is a fish”. 2.1.2 Research on vague language at homeThe devotion to vagueness in China is generous and a lot of researches have been done on the vagueness of natural language. Until now, various registers such as news report and advertisement have all been dealt with already.Wu Tieping is considered as the one to introduce va
