A Study On Pragmatic Vagueness As A Strategy In Chinese Courtroom Response: An Adaptation-based Theory

The present study concentrates on pragmatic vagueness as a strategy in Chinese courtroom response. It mainly belongs to qualitative study on the records of Chinese courtroom trials. The conceptual framework is constructed on Jef.Verschueren (1999) Linguistic Adaptation Theory. The investigation focuses on the realization, adaptability, functionality and application of pragmatic vagueness as a strategy employed by courtroom responders.Through observation of the data, we generalize two ways of the courtroom responders' intentional employment of pragmatic vagueness as a strategy in courtroom response, turning to contextual interpretation and resorting vague expressions. The pragmatic vagueness employed by courtroom responders is the product of the process of adaptation to and dynamic negotiation with the imbalance of power in courtroom, courtroom responders' legal rights and obligations and courtroom responders' psychological motivations. This is the mechanism of the choice-making of pragmatic vagueness as a strategy by courtroom responders. On the basis of thorough analysis of the data, we summarize the pragmatic functions of pragmatic vagueness as a strategy in courtroom response as masking negative information, pretending to satisfy questions, reducing commitment to the fact and mitigating seriousness of the fact. The pragmatic functions of pragmatic vagueness as a strategy in Chinese courtroom response have no one to one corresponding relations with ways of the realization of pragmatic vagueness. Among all the ways of the realization of pragmatic vagueness, ambiguity, abstract expression, indefinite deictic expression, hedges are mostly used to achieve the courtroom responder's communicative goal of withholding information to their disadvantage. Understatement and hedges are employed by responders to lessen courtroom responders' responsibility for certain facts.The present study may shed some light on the nature of pragmatic vagueness as a strategy in courtroom response. It also expected that the study will make a contribution to courtroom responders in trial practice, for better protection of their interests by means of the efficient use of pragmatic vagueness a strategy.