| Fuzzy language occurs in language communication frequently. The analysis of fuzzy language receives great attention from philosophy, semantics and pragmatics. This thesis follows the theoretical framework of pragmatics and analyzes the pragmatic functions of fuzziness from the perspective of adaptation theory developed by Verschueren(2000). In this thesis, the author selects disaster news reports on the authoritative official website and explores the linguistic characteristics of fuzziness in disaster news reports and the functions of fuzziness in disaster news reports.According to Verschueren, adaptation theory is expounded from four dimensions,namely, context correlates of adaptation; structural objects of adaptability; dynamics of adaptability and salience of adaptation. In this thesis, the author mainly explores the fuzziness in disaster news texts from the dimension of context correlates of adaptation.Through analyzing fuzzy language in disaster news texts, the thesis has come to the conclusion that fuzziness does exist in disaster news texts. Linguistically, fuzziness is realized on three language levels, namely, on lexical level, on syntactic level, and on cross-textual level. And pragmatic functions of fuzzy language in disaster news reports are: making news reports more concise, objective, and truthful; maintaining domestic situation and international position of the stricken country; protecting reporters from being blamed because of reporting too directly or too straightforwardly; adapting to readers’ interest and understanding level; reducing the psychologically negative influence of disasters on readers;The findings have enriched researches on fuzziness, especially from the perspective of adaptation theory and give some guidance to reporters and readers, such as helping reporters employ fuzziness more appropriately, and helping readers better understand fuzziness in disaster news reports. |
PDF Full Text Request