A Study On Vague Language In Communication

In the human language, as is widely known, there have been many aspects that are more or less relevant to the vagueness. Vagueness constitutes the essential features of language for at least two reasons. First of all, either defining a concrete object or describing an abstract event, each proves to be an operation where objective existence is made abstract by linguistic symbols. Secondly, language is known to be a conventionalization about the meaning this language represents among the people who speak it. Both the abstraction and conventionalization create vagueness. In the light of this, we can understand that accuracy is only relative whereas vagueness is universal and absolute. L.A. Zadeh was the first who developed his Fuzzy-set Theory. Vague linguistics, as a new branch of discipline where Fuzzy-set Theory is applied to linguistic exploration, has increasingly become a focus of attention. However, most people working in this area tend to devote their endeavor to the study of the semantic facets of vague expressions, while neglecting the positive role vague language may play in pragmatics, i.e. in language communication and cultural exchange.By courtesy of previous studies and in view of the major principles in pragmatics, this paper sets as its goal a detailed study on the positive role of vague language in daily communication, by redressing the popular misconcepts about vagueness in language as the first step and transcending the prevailing limitations to the study. It further points out the inadequacy ofthe research. First, the study of vague language has been focused more on its negative aspect than on its positive aspect. Second, the vague idea is often seen as parallel or even synonymous to ambiguity or obscurity. Third, the angle from which people view vague language is more semantic than pragmatic. Based on large numbers of authentic examples (mainly in English), discoveries are made about the common occurrence of vague language in verbal communication and furthermore, such communicative function works in line with the appropriateness communication requires. The study on the communicative function of vague language results in the author's approach of "vague communication". That is to say, a conscious and meaningful use of vague language would greatly help a speaker in accomplishing his goal of communication.In addition, backed by her own experience in teaching, the author holds that the teacher is expected to consciously enlighten the students on the objective existence of linguistic vagueness and the ways it is expressed. Above all, it is the teacher's duty to guide the students in their correct and flexible use of linguistic vagueness in their daily communication.