A Study Of Intentional Ambiguity From The Perspective Of Adaptation Theory

As a universal language phenomenon, intentional ambiguity plays an important role in verbal communication. From the perspective of communicative effects, ambiguity can be divided into two subcategories: intentional ambiguity and unintentional ambiguity. The former is a communicative strategy employed by language users to achieve certain communicative needs. The skillful using of intentional ambiguity makes the expression more vivid and humorous, or more appealing. The latter is the reflection of structural contradiction of language and should be avoided and eliminated. At present, scholars are paying more and more attention to the classifications of ambiguity, distinction between intentional ambiguity and unintentional ambiguity, and elimination of unintentional ambiguity. However, they haven't provided a complete analysis on the phenomenon of intentional ambiguity. In view of this, the present thesis makes a further study on the phenomenon of intentional ambiguity based on Jef Verschuren's Adaptation Theory.According to the Adaptation Theory, language using is a continuous process of making linguistic choices. The appropriate choices made by language users in communication process depend on the linguistic features of variability, negotiability and adaptability. The process of using language can be described and analyzed from contextual correlates of adaptability, structural objects of adaptability, dynamics of adaptability and salience of the adaptation processes. On the basis of Adaptation Theory, the thesis analyzes variability, negotiability and adaptability of intentional ambiguity, also studies adaptation of intentional ambiguity to contextual correlates. As a way of language expression, intentional ambiguity is not only the reflection of language choices, but also the adaptation of language users to contextual correlates. Context keeps being generated and changing in the process of communication, so the choices being made by language users should be adjusted accordingly. Intentional ambiguity is the result of language users'dynamic adaptation to contextual correlates so as to meet communicative needs. The thesis, which is a beneficial attempt on study of intentional ambiguity, is expected to help language users comprehensively and systematically understand intentional ambiguity, and appropriately use it in communication.The structure of the thesis is as follows: Chapter 1 gives an introduction to the present study, which includes the object, significance, methodology and organization of the thesis; Chapter 2 reviews previous studies of ambiguity both in China and abroad, and delimitation of intentional ambiguity; Chapter 3 introduces background information of Adaptation Theory and its main content; Based on Adaptation Theory, chapter 4 analyzes variability, negotiability and adaptability of intentional ambiguity; Chapter 5 is the conclusion of the study, in which major findings are summarized, limitations are pointed out, and suggestions for further study are given as well.