Analysis Of Pragmatic Vagueness In Diplomatic Language Through The Angle Of Cognitive-relevant Context

In language communication, pragmatic vagueness is a special language phenomenon with strong intention. As a communication strategy, its indirectness, flexibility and generality just meet the requirements of diplomatic language. Since Zadeh published Fuzzy Set in 1965, researches on language vagueness have been developing vigorously. There are many researches about it. However, according to previous researches, little work on pragmatic vagueness from the angle of cognitive-relevant context in diplomatic language has been done. Therefore, on the basis of previous researches and data of diplomatic language, the dissertation attempts to analyze pragmatic vagueness from that angle. This is the focus of the dissertation as well as its innovation.The dissertation adopting a qualitative research employs utterances in diplomatic language. Based on Relevance Theory, it probes into pragmatic vagueness from the perspective of cognitive context. The objective of the study is to enhance people's consciousness of pragmatic vagueness and to explain diplomatic language vagueness and its functions.The dissertation includes five chapters. Chapter One briefly introduces significance, purpose, data and methodology of the research. Chapter Two is literature review. It reviews language phenomenon of pragmatic vagueness and Relevance Theory. Chapter Three is the main content of the dissertation. It is divided into three parts, including cognitive context expansion, cognitive context reduction and cognitive context change. Each part is analyzed by examples from five aspects of cognitive context, including topic, idea, circumstance, intention and attitude. Chapter Four is application of pragmatic vagueness in diplomatic language. The first part concludes three kinds of expressions of vagueness in diplomatic language. The second part expounds communicative functions and diplomatic function of pragmatic vagueness in diplomatic language. Chapter Five summarizes major findings, implications and limitations.The present study has certain significance in theory and practice. Theoretically, it attempts to strengthen the interpretation power of Relevance Theory and theories related to pragmatic vagueness. Practically, it enlightens and helps people who engage in diplomacy, translation and education to understand diplomatic language more accurately and to use it more effectively.