ABSTRACT

As an important mean in business interaction, language in English commercial correspondence must be definite and specific, in order to avoid some unnecessary dispute and trouble. However, vagueness has a vast application in commercial correspondence. This paper investigates vagueness in different kinds of commercial correspondence and its functions. 

Vagueness does not influence the communication between two parties in commercial correspondence. On the contrary, the use of vagueness makes the commercial correspondence more polite, appropriate, and persuasive and can protect the sender in case of dispute. 

Key words: commercial correspondence; vagueness; function

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABSTRACT

摘要

Chapter One  INTRODUCTION-1

Chapter Two  LITERATURE REVIEW-2

2.1 Vagueness-2

2.1.1 Definition of vagueness-2

2.1.2 Category of vagueness-3

2.2 Commercial Correspondence-3

2.2.1 Categories of commercial correspondence-3

2.2.2 Principles of commercial correspondence-4

Chapter Three  THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK-6

Chapter Four  VAGUENESS IN COMMERCIAL CORRESPONDENCES-7

4.1Vagueness in Letter of Sales/Establishing Business Relationship-7

4.2 Vagueness in Letter of Inquiry and Quotation-8

4.3 Vagueness in Letter of Offer and Counter-Offer-8

4.4 Vagueness in Letter of Order and Payment-9

4.5 Vagueness in Letter of Shipment and Apology-9

4.6 Summary-10

Chapter Five PRAGMATIC FUNCTIONS OF VAGUENESS IN COMMERCIAL CORRESPONDENCES-11

5.1 Making the Language More Appropriate-11

5.2 Making the Language More Polite-11

5.3 Making the Language Persuasive-11

5.4 Achieving Self-Protection-12

5.5 Summary-12

Chapter Six  CONCLUSION-13

REFERENCE-14

APPENDIX-15